ROMANIA - Medical Device Industry and Demographic Data

Shown below you will find some basic demographic and economic data, plus information specific to the medical device and healthcare industry.

Capital city: Bucharest

Total area: 238000 km²

Population: 22.2 million

Currency: Leu

Language: Romanian

Structure of population:
0-14 years: 15.5%
15-64 years: 69.7%
65 years and over: 14.7% (2009 est.)

Healthcare expenditure: $679 per capita (at int. $ rate, 2007 data)

Number of hospitals: 419 (2006 data)

Healthcare financing: The services provided by specialists in ambulatory settings, including dental care services, are reimbursed on fee-for-service basis. Hospitals receive prospective payments consisting of a mix of payment methods. The total value of the contract signed by hospitals is composed of case payment (DRG or flat rate per case), a budget (calculated on the basis of the number of estimated cases, the optimal length of stay and the negotiated tariff per day), a sum dedicated to the national public health programmes, payments for other services based on negotiated tariff. Primary healthcare is financed on the base of a point system. Points are calculated from a mix of age-weighted capitation and fee-for-service payments.

Medical device industry: The Romanian market has grown at average 7.8% per year and is expected to grow between 7 and 10% per annum over the coming five years. The total market size of medical equipment was valued at $261.1 million in 2001. Production of medical devices in 2005 is estimated at €3.9 million. The domestic production is estimated at 10%. Opportunity: The potential demand for new equipment is huge and with economic growth, funding will be possible. In September 2007, the Health Minister stated that the amount of money invested by the government in medical devices had reached unprecedented levels that year, equal to $41.6 million. The private sector is relatively small, but represents some of the best sales opportunities. The dental sector in particular is a major private sector growth area. Threat: The budgetary allocations to the public healthcare sector.