New framework contract for the provision of medical assistance

Expanding access to medicine and medical services for the insured patients, cutting some of the red tape and making the activity of medical service providers more transparent are some of the stipulations of a new framework contract.

Daniela Budu, 02.04.2018, 13:13

The new framework contract for the provision of medical assistance came into force on the 1st of April, but it isn’t until the 1st of July that people will be able to get their medicine at any pharmacy in the country that has a contract with the health insurance system. Similarly, paraclinical tests recommended by the doctors who have a contract with the health insurance system may also be carried out at any provider in the country.

According to the National Health Insurance House, family doctors will provide new services as part of the package of basic medical services, such as writing a medical note for unemployed people who find new employment and compiling a medical file for disabled children. Also, palliative care specialists will be allowed to sign contracts with the health insurance house so that they also provide outpatient palliative care services.

Palliative care improves the quality of life for both patients and their families, who suffer from conditions associated with life-threatening diseases. Not in the least, insured patients will be able to send by post, to the Health Insurance House, the documents needed for the approval of a medical device. These new regulations have been approved in the context of the big problems that the Romanian healthcare system is dealing with. Representatives of the National Society of General Practice have repeatedly signalled the fact that in a few years Romania will be left without general practitioners, especially in rural areas.

For many years now, Romania has been faced with a massive exodus of medical staff, who are leaving the country in search for better salaries and the opportunity to work in functional health-care systems. According to Radu Ganescu, head of the Coalition of Organisations of Patients with Chronic Diseases in Romania, over 600 communities in Romania do not benefit from primary care services and there are patients who must travel 60 to 80 kilometres to find a doctor. In an attempt to put an end to the exodus of medical staff, the Bucharest Government has increased this year the salaries of physicians and nurses.