Romania’s Healthcare System and the SARS-CoV-2 Crisis – What We Learned and What Comes Next

READ THE FULL REPORT

A concise look at how the Romanian healthcare system managed the early COVID-19 crisis — risks, missed opportunities, and future directions.

 

When the SARS-CoV-2 virus hit Europe, Romania found itself navigating a healthcare crisis with fragile infrastructure, resource shortages, and systemic inefficiencies.

But alongside challenges, the pandemic also unveiled opportunities for structural reform and private sector engagement. In this article, we explore the critical insights from a detailed risk analysis report — and offer you the chance to download the full document if you want to dive deeper.

1. Romania’s Healthcare System – Under Pressure

  • Romania’s system relies heavily on public infrastructure (80% share).
  • Aging infrastructure and underfunding left the system vulnerable.
  • The private healthcare sector remains complementary, not fully integrated.

2. Human Resources – A Fragile Backbone

  • Medical personnel shortages, especially in rural areas.
  • Migration of qualified staff to Western Europe exacerbated the crisis.
  • Romania ranks among the lowest in EU for doctors per capita.

3. Crisis Management – The ‘White Plan’

  • The Ministry of Health initiated a two-phase hospital strategy.
  • Designated Phase I and Phase II hospitals aimed to control patient flow.
  • Lack of protective gear and ICU beds led to multiple outbreaks in hospitals.

4. Procurement in Emergency Mode

  • Exceptional public procurement measures were introduced.
  • Faster procurement through direct awards and simplified negotiations.
  • Risk of abuse and corruption increased under emergency protocols.

5. Business & CSR Opportunities

  • Companies adapted production lines to deliver medical equipment.
  • Private sector support was crucial in stabilizing the healthcare response.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility campaigns gained momentum.

6. Long-Term Lessons

  • Pandemic exposed deep systemic inefficiencies.
  • The need for better digital infrastructure, more investment, and better communication between institutions became clear.
  • Private-public partnerships might hold the key to reform.

 

This crisis has shown both the resilience and fragility of Romania’s medical system. It revealed vulnerabilities — but also sparked initiatives that could lead to long-term transformation. If you’re curious about the full in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations, we’ve made the full document available for download below.