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Romania
Adriana Galan and Victor Olsavszky
Economic trends
• After high real per capita GDP growth in 2008, Romania's economy
contracted in 2009 and stagnated in 2010; in 2011, growth was above
the European mean.
• Ten-year bond rates remain high relative to the European region.
• Despite a slight reduction in the size of government expenditure relative
to the economy since 2009, the country's health spending priority has
slightly increased, although it remains below the European mean. Total
health expenditure per capita is dominated by public spending, which
contracted in 2009, but returned to modest growth in 2010; growth in
OOP expenditure per capita has slowed (Romania: Figs 1 and 2).
Policy responses
Changes to public funding for the health system
• Public spending on health fell between 2007 and 2009 and recovered in
subsequent years.
• The Ministry of Health budget fell between 2008 and 2011 and grew in
2012.
• The health sector was protected in comparison with other public
sectors, and national programmes for cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and
tuberculosis were protected to ensure continuity.
• SHI revenues fell because of higher unemployment and lower salaries in
2009 and SHI deficits grew.
• Government transfers to SHI amounted to about 24% of the total health
budget in 2010, 12% in 2011 and 10% in 2012.
• Government announced plans to generate additional revenue through more
effective collection, reducing the number of exemptions from SHI contribution
and improved management (2010).
• SHI contributions were extended to pensioners with an income of over
RON 740 per month (5.5%), including Romanian pensioners resident in
other EU Member States (2011).