Romanian Healthcare Service Co-Payment System To Be Introduced In Jan 2011

A 2010-2012 strategy drawn up by the Health Ministry stipulates that co-payment will be made directly to medical service providers in the first quarter of 2011.

The Government pledged that it will introduce the co-payment system for healthcare services and that exemptions from co-payment will not exceed 40% of patients, according to Romania’s loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.

A draft law regulating the healthcare co-payment system was submitted to the Government by Health Ministry officials at the end of April. The Finance Ministry officials asked that it be revised, arguing that some of its provisions still put pressure on the state budget, people with direct knowledge of talks said back then.

According to the draft act, the total yearly cost of health vouchers per person will not exceed 600 lei (EUR1=RON4.2872) and consultations, investigations and hospital days beyond this margin will be free of charge.