Analysis: Amid a 37.68% Surge in Romania’s Healthcare Expenditure, Affordable Access to Health Products Gains Primacy

Romania is witnessing an upsurge in healthcare spending, with projections indicating a 37.68% increase, escalating the total healthcare expenditure by $7.5 billion and reaching $27.3 billion by 2028^[1]. This surge is mainly mirrored in consumer healthcare spending, anticipated to rise by 47.87% and hitting $22 billion^[2], while per capita consumer spending on healthcare, which does not include state spending, increasing by over 53% to $1,147.29 (€1085,52)^[3]. This upward trend unveils a challenging landscape for Romanians, as although healthcare spending increases, in comparison to other states within the EU it remains low. Romanians currently face one of the lowest healthcare expenditures per inhabitant in the EU at €713, a figure below Bulgaria’s €754 and starkly contrasted by Luxembourg’s €5,875 or Denmark’s €5 642^[4].

The disparity extends beyond nominal figures. When adjusted for purchasing power standards (PPS), Romania’s healthcare expenditure per inhabitant stands at 1,428 PPS, significantly lower than Germany’s 4,831 PPS, showcasing a pronounced healthcare affordability gap^[5].

Amid this challenging financial environment, Liki24, the Ukraine-founded international marketplace for health and pharmaceutical products, underlines the importance of offering access to affordable health products and proposes efficient solutions. By offering access to a diverse range of health products at prices 30% lower than the average, the company is addressing the affordability gap head-on, making healthcare more accessible to Romanians.

Natalia Dina, Romania Country Manager for Liki24, says: “The rise in Romania’s healthcare costs, mostly falling on individuals rather than the government, represents a serious concern, especially since the purchasing power remains low in comparison to other EU states. Yet, this situation, while challenging, encourages us at Liki24 to foster innovative solutions. Already, over 200,000 active customers turn to our platform for affordable healthcare products. This shows the tangible impact we’re making, aligning with our core mission of making healthcare accessible to all, no matter their financial situation. The upcoming launch of our new telemedicine services aims to broaden our impact, reinforcing our dedication to ensuring every Romanian can easily access quality healthcare services, regardless of the economic backdrop.”

Liki24 allows easy navigation through a diverse range of over 50,000 prescription-free and prescription-based health products. This approach helps consumers save time and money, by addressing multiple issues including product availability, costly deliveries, and significant price variations for identical medicines.

On average, customers place orders valued between RON 140 and RON 200. They appreciate the Liki24 platform for the multiple advantages they benefit from when they order through it the healthcare products they need:

• 61% of users choose Liki24 for the convenience of having a one-stop shop where they can order a broad range of goods including medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, products for children, cosmetics, and more.
• 45% highlight the platform’s ability to offer affordable prices by collecting good offers from various sellers.
• 39% mostly appreciate the quickness of delivery and the wide selection of delivery options they can opt for.

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^[1] https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1149054/healthcare-spending-forecast-in-romania – including expenditures with regards to healthcare services and goods, the spending refers to current spending of both governments and consumers.

^[2] https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1162751/healthcare-consumer-spending-forecast-in-romania – In this context, consumer healthcare spending represents the buying demand from private households and non-profit institutions catering to households (NPISHs), with corporate and state spending not accounted for.

^[3] https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1162208/healthcare-consumer-spending-per-capita-forecast-in-romania – In this context, per capita healthcare spending represents the buying demand from private households and non-profit institutions catering to households (NPISHs), with corporate and state spending not accounted for.

^[4]https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Healthcare_expenditure_statistics#Healthcare_expenditure

^[5]https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Healthcare_expenditure_statistics#Healthcare_expenditure