Population perception on corruption, informal payments and introduction of co-payments in the public health system in Romania

Abstract

This article presents the results of an opinion study realized in 2009 and representative at national level regarding population perception regarding corruption in the health system, informal payments and introducing co-payments for medical services in the public health system, in addition to the existing ones. According to the study findings one of every five respondents considers corruption as the main problem of the Romanian medical system. The vast majority of the participants in the study is against the informal payments and considers that the introduction of co-payments will not necessary lead to corruption or informal payments reduction in the health system, nor to the increase of the health services quality if they are not accompanied by measured directly addressed to these services. Keywords: Public health system, Romania, corruption, informal payments, co-payments