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470 Economic crisis, health systems and health in Europe: country experience
• A plan to build about eight new hospitals was abandoned and purchasing
of equipment reduced. Infrastructure and capital investment were focused
only on some priority areas such as oncology and emergency services,
along with hospital repairs (2012).
• The Ministry of Health ordered the number of beds funded by the Health
Insurance Fund to be decreased by 2512 in 2013 compared with 2012
(from 125 639 in to 123 127).
• There have been several private investments in the hospital sector:
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external loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development and the European Investment Bank for rehabilitation of
hospitals, obstetrics and neonatology services and procurement of medical
equipment (2010 onwards);
eight new private hospitals were opened with an investment of
€131 million (2011); and
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private investment in the health sector was €100 million in 2012.
Priority setting or protocols to change access to treatments, coordination
of care and patterns of use
• A review of the Health Insurance Fund decreased the duration of
hospitalization in certain groups of diseases and procedures (2011).
Waiting times
• No response reported.
Health promotion and prevention
• Excise taxes for tobacco and beer increased by 14% and 10%, respectively
(2013).
• Enhanced training programme for doctors in breast, cervical and colon
cancer screening (2010–2013).
• New screening programme for cervical cancer (2012).