Price of a consultation in private clinics up 80% in five years

The price of a consultation with an internist has increased 80% since 2005, from 50 lei to 90-100 lei, according to a ZF analysis based on data supplied by four clinics networks - Medicover, Romar, Medsana and Sanador - which agreed to supply the data. The other six companies in the top ten, MedLife, Euromedic, Regina Maria (CMU), Gral, Medcenter, Polisano, to whom ZF sent requests for information, have not supplied information.

The data supplied show that all private operators have raised fees in the past five years. The market of private medical services has been one of the most dynamic sectors during this interval, considering that in 2005 it was showing signs of taking shape, having reached nearly half a billion euros at present.

The turnovers of private clinics followed the market trend and saw a significant rise from 5 million euros in 2005 to 25 million euros in 2009 in the case of MedLife, and from 6 million euros in 2005 to nearly 12 million euros in 2009 for Medicover. MedLife and Medicover are among the biggest players on the private medical services market. Between 2005 and 2010, the cumulated inflation rate was 50%.

"The cost of medical services is directly or indirectly influenced by the exchange rate. Between 2005 and 2010, rent, imports of sanitary materials, which are reported in foreign currency, rose over 20%. Also, in the above-mentioned period, wage levels across the entire Romanian economy kept up with the lei/euro exchange rate, which indirectly had an impact on the price of consultations," said Vassilis Chaniotis, general manager of Medsana Medical Centre.