The programme for the evaluation of population's health, launched on July 1, for which the Health Ministry has earmarked 300 million euros, doubles the growth pace of labs processing test samples.
However, lab representatives say the impact will not be a strong one due to the low degree of population mobilisation.
"We don't believe in a turnover boom triggered by this programme, though this is the first impression. We expect our business to be bolstered by the national programme for the evaluation of population's health, but the increase will be gradual," said Virgil Ivan, general manager with Synevo Romania, the lab unit of Medicover group, expecting turnover to reach 11 million euros this year.
Population mobilisation will be difficult to achieve because prevention is still a new concept with Romanians. "We forecast 20% turnover growth in the second half of this year against the same period of last year," Ivan also said.
On the other hand, Laboratoarele Bioclinica of Timisoara, one of the main players in the domain, counts on 40% growth in the following period, double the initial estimates.
Cristian Gheorghiu, the majority shareholder in the company, specified turnover growth by 20-25% against 2006 had been initially budgeted. Thus, Bioclinica had projected turnover worth 10.2 million RON (3 million euros) early this year, from 8.2 million RON (2.4 million euros) in 2005. He insists precise estimates can only be made after several months after the programme starts, with reactions being tested meanwhile.
The opinion is shared by the representatives of Laboratoarele Unisyn, a new player on the market, created by a partnership between Germany's biggest lab network, Synlab, and Centrul Medical Unirea. Ilarie Baila, the general manager with the company, says the programme will drive the turnover up, "but not by more than 20% this year".
The overall costs of the programme are put at 300 million euros and around 11 million Romanians are expected to participate, so that costs per person revolve around 27 euros.
During this period, labs are signing contracts with Insurance Offices for the payment of investigations operated as part of the programme. Family doctors can recommend a maximum number of 9 investigations, worth up to 50 RON.
As for the new clients of labs, their number is expected to be 40% higher than the average of a normal day.
The persisting uncertainty with regard to the way the programme is to unfold does not allow market players to make precise estimates on the impact of the programme over their business. Still, most of them are counting on a turnover increase of at least 20% in the second half of this year.
Who vies for doing Romanians' lab tests
Synevo, the lab unit of Medicover, expects turnover to rise to 11m euros in 2007 from 9.2m euros in 2006
Bioclinica Timisoara, operating 8 labs, targets 10.2m RON (3.2m euros) turnover this year
Medcenter, a provider of private medical services, with a solid presence on the lab segment, projects 6.5m-euro turnover in 2007
MedLife owns several labs in Bucharest
Unisyn, one of the newest name on the market
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