The private health services market is one of the most dynamic business sectors in Romania after it advanced by 12 percent in 2017, compared to the previous year, according to a survey conducted by Mediprice.
The value of this service segment is almost EUR 1.7 billion, with an average annual growth of 9.5 percent in 2011-2016. Overall, the first five private chains in Romania achieved a turnover of about EUR 400 million last year.
According to Eliza Pintilie, Mediprice general director, the special dynamic of the market shows a significant increase of population demand for private health services. The public health instability and the increase of the disposable income of the middle class have contributed, in recent years, to this evolution.
”Unfortunately, Romania is the country with one of the lowest volumes of information in the field of medical services, both from the perspective of patients and providers. This affects the evolution of the public sector as well as that of the private sector,” Pintilie said.
In the 2011-2016 period, the number of private hospitals in Romania doubled, reaching more than 200 units. On the other hand, the number of public hospitals dropped significantly, following the closure of 67 units on April 1, 2011. At the same time, the number of private medical centers increased threefold to over 600 in 2016.