UNDERFUNDING OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN ROMANIA

Abstract

Although health spending has increased in Romania, the budget allocation for health, compared to the gross domestic product, is among the lowest in Europe, specifically, in 2019, lower on average by 4.69% compared to the European average and by 6.08% compared to Germany, the country with the highest budget allocation for health. Every year, Romania s mortality rate is among the highest in the European Union, each time above the EU average and in last place in terms of treatable causes of mortality, which does show that the national health system fails to provide the necessary services, among the main causes being underfunding and inefficient use of allocated financial resources. The effects of the underfunding of the health system in Romania are highlighted in the statistics of the European Union level, the life expectancy at birth as well as the unsatisfied needs regarding the medical services ranked far worse than the European average. As part of this paper, a qualitative and quantitative research has been done which highlights the existence of direct relationships between the underfunding of the Romanian health system and the ability to provide citizens with adequate medical services. A comparative analysis of the level of funding in EU countries is conducted in regards to the best performing health systems, which have a direct impact on the health of the population and the situation in Romania.