Radio România Internațional

Tag: doctors

  • Measures for the medical system

    Measures for the medical system

    The healthcare domain is one of the major dissatisfactions of Romanians, as shown by all opinion polls. Suffocating bureaucracy, old hospitals, doctors offices without basic equipment, corrupt physicians who condition the medical act on bribe, rigged contests for filling managerial positions and purchases at inflated prices. Nothing is missing from the range of comorbidities of the healthcare system in Romania. Moreover, the system has been faced with a lack of personnel for a long time. Although, in recent years, Romanian doctors have received salaries comparable to those in Western Europe, many continue to leave the country, while in the Romanian countryside, many communes do not have doctors, and in the cities that have hospitals there is not enough medical personnel.



    This week, the manager of the Dr. Victor Gomoiu Clinical Children’s Hospital in Bucharest, Maria Enescu, has publicly drawn attention to the difficult situation in the medical unit’s on-call room, given that, she says, there is an acute lack of staff, and the nurses are exhausted. The shortage of personnel, the people in the system say, was worsened by the authorities decision to block the tender for positions in state institutions, a measure from a larger package, decided by the governing coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party – PSD and the National Liberal Party – PNL with the avowed intention to reduce the budget deficit. But, the press notes, in a year marked by European parliament, local, legislative and presidential elections, politicians are good at sweetening the bitter pill that they have prescribed themselves.



    The Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday that a priority of his government team is to rapidly solve the issue of resident doctors who passed the specialty exam at the end of last year. There are approximately 4,500 doctors in whom the Romanian state has invested hundreds of millions of euros, and we must make sure that we keep them in the country. That is why, in the next period, the Health Ministry and the Development Ministry must update the lists of vacant positions and present the Government with new memoranda for tender for positions. I also ask the Finance Ministry to cooperate to make things happen quicker said the Prime Minister, at the beginning of the first Government meeting of 2024.



    The memoranda initiated by the two ministries regarding the tendering for vacancies in the healthcare system could be approved next week, the Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, a party colleague of the PM announced also on Thursday. Thus, each health unit will be able to organize contests to fill vacant doctor or nurse positions. From the opposition, Save Romania Union – USR claims that there is a deficit of over 20,000 nurses and auxiliary medical personnel and of about 8,000 doctors, across Romania. (LS)


  • August 10, 2017 UPDATE

    August 10, 2017 UPDATE

    TOXIC EGGS Fipronil, a pesticide toxic for humans, has been discovered in a ton of liquid egg yolk imported from Germany that was deposited in a warehouse in western Romania. The entire quantity is to be incinerated, the National Sanitary-Veterinary Authority announced on Thursday adding the product had been prevented from making it to the Romanian markets. 8 European countries, including France, Britain and Germany have so far been affected by this eggs scandal, which began in Belgium and the Netherlands, two of the world’s biggest exporters of eggs. Fipronil has been discovered in millions of eggs, which have subsequently been blocked from sale and withdrawn from the market.



    NAVY Romania’s naval forces are these days staging a series of events devoted to Navy Day celebrated on August 15th. For the past 115 years the Romanian Navy has been honoured on this day, when Christian believers celebrate the Dormition of the Mother of God. Military and religious services, wreath laying ceremonies at sailors’ monuments, drills and games as well as artistic shows and fireworks are among the events to take place on this occasion.



    HEAT Romania’s National Meteorology Administration has issued a code orange alert for heat and thermal discomfort valid as of Thursday for six counties in western Romania and another code yellow alert valid for 13 counties in the western half of the country. Sweltering temperatures are reported in lower areas in western Romania as well as in some places in the centre and the south, and the thermal-humidity comfort index reached and even exceeded the critical threshold of 80 units. Maximum temperatures will go up to 39 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists say the heat wave will linger until the end of the week. Atmospheric instability will also be registered in the afternoon, in places, in the mountains, particularly in the northwest. Experts say Romania will increasingly be affected by drought in most regions, mainly due to sweltering temperatures and the absence of rainfalls. In early May, representatives of the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences in Bucharest said the recent weather phenomena have produced extensive damage to orchards and vineyards, some cultures being compromised to a large extent.



    VACCINATION The College of Physicians in Romania on Thursday launched an awareness raising campaign on the risk the population runs when choosing online unconventional information, instead of going to see a specialist doctor. Doctors draw attention to the fact that self-medication, based on online forum information and on social networks, can reduce the patients’ healing chances, because they may be diagnosed rather late. The campaign is launched in the context in which on Wednesday, the government approved a draft law introducing mandatory child vaccination. The state is funding and organising the process of vaccination in Romania, also providing efficient and safe vaccines.


  • Measures for the healthcare system

    Measures for the healthcare system

    The Romanian government has announced that, in 2016, it will allot some 100 million lei (some 22 million Euros) to increase payment of overtime for doctors on call, in keeping with the base salaries, which were increased as of August 1. Health minister Vlad Voiculescu has said this decision is one of the most important steps taken forward, in recent times, to the benefit of doctors, who choose to leave the country in search of a better paid job abroad, because of small salaries and under-funding.



    According to the Health Ministry, the pay rise takes effect as of October 1, and the funds will be allocated thanks to a more efficient management of the existing resources in the healthcare system. Night shifts on call will be made based on a part time individual employment contract. The advantage to doctors is that these shifts will count as both work seniority and seniority in the field. This type of employment contract will allow doctors to benefit from paid annual leave in keeping with the number of hours spent on night calls in hospitals, other than those employing them on a full time basis.



    The ministry has also announced that doctors on the so-called “mandatory night shifts” will benefit from a 25% bonus, which hasn’t been the case so far. Also, under the law, doctors who got a PhD in medical sciences since 2010, will benefit from a 15% bonus, which hadn’t been allotted before August 1. Work and rest hours will be reconfigured, in terms of flexibility, showing respect for the effort made by doctors and care for the patients’ safety. The ministry is also analysing ways to pay first and second year resident doctors for the night shifts they make.



    The new decisions come just days after, on August 1, the salaries of the employees in the public healthcare system were increased. The hikes range from 300 lei (some 70 Euros) to 900 lei (some 200 Euros). 163 thousand people will benefit from them. Also on August 1, the government introduced a bonus system in healthcare, under which beginners will benefit from a 2% bonus. The quantum of salaries differ, just like in the education system, depending on specialization and seniority and is completed by various bonuses.



    The basic salary of doctors working in healthcare units will range between 2,400 lei (525 Euros) and 3,000 lei (650 Euros), depending on work seniority, whereas the salary of nurses will vary between 1,900 lei (430 Euros) and 2,400 lei (540 Euros). The salary of a consultant paramedic and of an emergency doctor will amount to 5,400 lei (some 1,200 Euros).



    In another move, state secretary with the Interior Ministry, Raed Arafat, says at least four new hospitals should have been built in Romania over the past 25 years, to replace the old infrastructure, and it’s not normal that that hasn’t happened. Arafat has also added that Romania should have a clear-cut long term plan to restore hospital infrastructure.

  • August 6, 2016 UPDATE

    August 6, 2016 UPDATE

    NAVY DAY – The Romanian Navy Day, traditionally celebrated on August 15, is preceded these days by events organised by the Romanian Navy Forces in the Constanta and Mangalia military ports at the Black Sea. On Saturday the public visited military vessels, to find out details on the techniques, equipment and weaponry used by the marines. Interactive workshops, games and competitions were also organised. The Navy bands added music to the festive atmosphere.




    CAR MARKET – Over 175,000 new and used cars were registered in Romania in the first six months of the year, up 19% compared to the first half of 2015, according to the National Statistics Institute. The only segment to see a decline was the bus and van segment, which went down by nearly 8%. On the other hand, 17.5% more cargo vehicles were registered. The peak year for new vehicle registrations in Romania was 2007, with over 300,000 vehicles registered.




    NATO – Two officers, one from Romania and one from the Czech Republic, will be temporarily working at the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine, as part of a programme designed to help bring Ukrainian military services up to NATO standards. The announcement was made by Viktor Muzhenko, Ukrainian Chief of Staff, quoted by Interfax news agency. The Ukrainian official added that the two officers were familiar with post-Soviet defence systems and experienced in reform measures implemented in their own countries. Ukraine wants to bring its military services to NATO standards by 2020.



    HEALTHCARE – As of October 1, doctors will be paid for extra night shifts, the Healthcare Ministry announced on Saturday. According to the Ministry, the nearly 22 million euro required for increasing physicians extra-time bonuses in 2016 will come from a more efficient management of the resources in the system, and mechanisms will be identified which will not affect the budget deficit forecast. The decision to increase payments for extra time in the healthcare system is one of the most important steps taken in recent years for the benefit of healthcare personnel, the Ministry added.




    AWARD – A team of Romanian students won the IT Excellence Award in Lucerne, Switzerland. In the 27th edition of the competition JA Europe Company of the Year they presented a model of smart glasses designed to help people with severe visual impairment. Produced using a 3D printer, the glasses are equipped with sensors that analyse all the information on the surrounding objects, process it and send it to the user by means of variable intensity and frequency signals. Taking part in the event held between July 25 and 28 were more than 200 young entrepreneurs from 35 European countries.




    QUEEN ANNE – Preparations continue in Romania for Queen Annes funeral. The wife of King Michael I of Romania died on Monday in a hospital in Switzerland, at the age of 92. Her body will be repatriated on Tuesday, August, 9, and the funeral will take place on Saturday, August 13, at Curtea de Argeş Monastery, the final resting place of Romanian royalty. August 13 will be a day of national mourning in Romania, but also in the neighbouring Republic of Moldova, under a decree signed on Friday by Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti.

    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • April 8, 2016

    April 8, 2016

    In 2015 Romania’s GDP registered a real 3.8% growth as compared to the previous year, shows a report published by the National Institute for Statistics (INS) on Friday. The National Forecast Committee has revised up its forecasts on Romania’s economic growth in 2015 to 3.7% and to 4.2% for this year. In turn, the European Commission has improved its estimates on Romania’s economic growth for 2015, 2016 and 2017. According to the new data released in February, the EU executive estimates that Romania’s GDP growth in 2015 was 3.6%, the highest after 2008. In 2016, the GDP is believed to reach a peak of 4.2%, while in 2017 it would go down to 3.7%.



    The High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest is today ruling on the last court appearance in the ‘Referendum’ file, in which Social-Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea got a previous suspended prison sentence of one year. Dragnea has been accused by DNA prosecutors of having coordinated a complex mechanism aimed at rigging turnout figures during the referendum on president Traian Basescu’s resignation. 74 other people, presidents and members of polling stations in 4 counties have been either acquitted or got suspended prison sentences in the same file. We recall that 87% of the voters voted for the president to step down, but the referendum didn’t get validation due to the lack of quorum.



    WTA 34-th ranked tennis player Irina Begu of Romania on Thursday qualified for the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, with more than 687 thousand dollars in prize money, after defeating Monica Puig of Puerto Rico in three sets, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6. Begu will be up against the world’s second best player Angelique Kerber of Germany in the quarters. Head-to-heads revealed that Begu and Kerber are equal in terms of wins, two-all, but Kerber outperformed Irina in Charleston’s quarters last year.



    Doctors in Romania are threatening with a warning strike unless their claims are met, mainly those related to work conditions and payment. The medical personnel is disgruntled with the law on unitary payment in the healthcare system, based on the minimum wage of 280 euros. The medical personnel has also claimed all the bonuses that have been cut and also the time of rest and relaxation. They have also asked for free medical services to all those working in the system. Hundreds of doctors took to the streets on the World Health Day on Thursday, while their representatives were attending talks with institution officials. The protest timetable announced last month include an all-out strike on April 18th leaving only one third of the activities managed by the personnel as well as emergency cases.



    A Canadian frigate part of NATO’s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean is as of today making a three-day stop in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta. During the visit, the commander of the Canadian fleet in the Atlantic, comodore Craig Baines will be participating in meetings with Romanian navy officials. The Romanian and Canadian sailors will be training together in joint anti-submarine exercises and surveilance operations. The mission is part of the collective defence measures.



    Romania’s communication and transport infrastructure must be modernized and the people’s IT skills must be strengthened, the European Commissioner for Internal market and industry Elzbieta Bienkowska told a news conference in Bucharest on Friday. She encouraged the Romanian government to increase investment opportunities and EU fund absorption. The European official held talks with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos who briefed her on the government’s main objectives, one of them being the improvement of Romania’s investment climate.



  • February 18, 2016 UPDATE

    February 18, 2016 UPDATE

    EU leaders met on Thursday in Brussels for a two-day crucial summit, trying to reach a compromise to keep Britain in the European Union. Britains demands include changes in the field of social protection, political integration and financial regulations. Among others, London wishes to introduce a 4-year ban on in-work benefits for foreign workers and limit the level of benefits to those payable in the migrants country of origin unless their children reside in the UK. Romania is represented at the summit by president Klaus Iohannis, who says his country stands for finding a suitable solution that meets Britains expectations and keeps it in the European Union. At the same time, he said this solution must be in keeping with the EU treaties, respecting the Unions fundamental values and principles and the European legislation. The EU summit will also tackle migration and the distribution of refugees among member states.




    A group of doctors from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control travelled to Romania on Thursday to help find the cause of an infection that developed in a number of children from Arges county, in the south. Romania has activated the European common support mechanism more than a week after the first cases of infants with serious digestive infections, followed by major complications, were reported. The authorities say they will expand the epidemiological inquiry in Arges to test the animals in the areas where the children live. Three infants have died and three others are in intensive care. Meanwhile, the case has reached Parliament, with the Social Democratic Party saying it might call for a no-confidence vote against the health minister Patriciu Achimas Cadariu.





    The Romanian government has launched a public debate on its proposed integrated package to fight poverty, which entails 47 different measures for all age categories. The programme aims to provide assistance for the following four years to more than 1 million Romanians living under the poverty line, many of whom are children and old people. The measures include raising employment levels for people between the age of 20 and 64 from 66% in 2014 to 70% in 2020 and reducing by at least 580,000 the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by 2020. The anti-poverty package also entails a series of measures to help families such as: home improvement loans, preventing the separation of children from their families and incentives for day workers. All these goals are in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy.




    Illegal migration was the biggest challenge for Romania and the European Union in 2015, said the head of the Romanian General Immigration Inspectorate Viorel Vasile in a review of the inspectorates activity last year. He says 43% of the asylum applications registered in Romania come from Syrian nationals. 2,300 controls were carried out in 2015, with expatriation orders being issued for more than 2,000 foreign citizens. 189 of them were escorted out of the country, while 258 were taken into public custody. Currently, there are 104,000 foreign citizens in Romania.






    The humanitarian aid that Romania has pledged to offer the neighbouring Republic of Moldova stands at 3.7 million euros, the Government’s spokesman, Dan Suciu, announced on Thursday. The aid will consist in food for vulnerable people and heavy fuel oil to supplement Moldovas reserves in case its natural gas supply is disconnected. The announcement was made one day after the Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti’s visit to Bucharest.