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.