State still top hospital operator, private companies clearly dominate clinics market
Romania in 2009 had 474 hospitals, 16 more than in 2008, with
three new hospitals opened in the state system, while private
companies marked four times more openings, according to National
Statistics Institute (INS) data, the first to provide a
distribution in terms of ownership forms.
Despite last year's strong expansion, private players only managed
to take a small bite out of the dominant position of the state,
which currently owns 90.9% of the hospital market.
"(...) I don't believe private hospitals will ever match the number
of state ones, maybe only if the law on banning doctors from
working both in the state and private sectors is adopted," said
Radu Alexandru Macovei, manager of Floreasca Clinic Emergency
Hospital of Bucharest.
Private hospitals developed amid the lack of legislation bolstering
the private health insurance market, the basis of a private
healthcare system.
On the other hand, in terms of clinics, private players clearly
dominate the market, holding 94.4% of the overall 268 clinics.
Clinic expansion occurred particularly on the basis of healthcare
subscriptions private firms pay for their employees.