Aspects of the Economic Crisis in the Romanian Health System

• Author: Florin-Dan Puscaciu, Rose-Marie Puscaciu
• Pages: 181-190

ISSN: 2067 – 9211 Performance and Risks in the European Economy

181

Aspects of the Economic Crisis in the Romanian Health System

Florin Dan Pușcaciu1, Rose-Marie Pușcaciu2

Abstract: This paper represents a continuation of a previous contributions to the presentation of some of the

most significant confrontations of the Romanian post-decade society, such as the demographic crisis, the

situation of the road infrastructure and the education system. Unfortunately, it is also manifested in the health

system, both t hrough a sub-financing system, that is reflected in the material situation of the hospital units

and in the salary level of the medical staff, thus generating an exodus towards the developed countries, as

well as by a lack of coherence in health policies in the sense of prevention. As a direct consequence of these

states of t hings, a series of diseases that before 1989 seemed to be eradicated, or at least kept under control,

today are acutely manifested, placing Romania on the last place in the European Union and even more after

some countries with a more modest economic development. Besides, throughout the article we propose a

comparative approach with the European Union countries. The issue of the Romanian health system is also

detailed in the territorial profile, as there are great differences between the counties of the country, regarding

the number of doctors and the number of hospitals reported at the number of inhabitants. In order to

accomplish this, we use in a balanced way the qualitative and quantitative aspects and the graphic method is a

summary of the surprised aspects. Through our modest contribution, we want to sensitize potential readers to

the difficulties, but especially to the magnitude of the crisis in this area of greatest importance that Romanian

society is facing.

Keywords: public spending; health expenditure on GDP; EU countries; efficiency

JEL Classification: H4; H51; I1; I12

Motto: “Health is a treasure that few know to value, although almost everyone is born with it“

Hipocrate

1. Introduction

The health system is defined in the World Health Report as “all activities whose main purpose is to

promote, restore or maintain СealtС”.

The health system is a nation's health insurance and because of its importance, it can also assess the

level of economic and social development of the countries themselves. The American poet and

essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson is right to consider that “the first wealth of man is СealtС”. The

approach of this sector of greatest importance in Romania is a natural continuation after a series of

others in which we analyzed the demographic aspects, the situation of the road infrastructure, the

1 Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd., Galati 800654, Romania, Tel.:

+40372361102, Correspondi ng aut hor: fdpuscaciu@univ-danubius.ro.

2 Senior Lecturer, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd., Galati 800654, Romania, Tel.:

+40372361102, E-mail: rosemarie.puscaciu@univ-danubi us.ro.