Project on co-payment, criticized by Unions

Starting autumn, the co-payment for medical services could be introduced, whether the analysis, hospitalization or a visit to your GP or specialist.

Draft government decision on co-payment in health care, being under public debate, receives criticism from unions.

Federal Chamber of Physicians Trade Union considers that the co-payment amounts are set higher than other European countries.

"Limitation of excessive demand and unnecessary medical services and avoiding reporting services that were not carried out.
"The co-payment level is minimum, between 4 lei to the family doctor and until 90 lei at a clinical institute," said the Health Minister Vasile Cepoi.

National Confederation Cartel Alfa Trade Union disagrees with the bill and believes it is necessary to introduce a pilot program in order to evaluate the effects on long term.

The Vice-president of Confederation, Toader Paraschiv, says that the co-payment system for medical services must respect the principle of solidarity.

"In other EU countries, the co-payment for medical services is about 1 percent of the minimum wage, which means that this amount should not exceed 84 lei per year for Romanians," said Toader Paraschiv.

According to Deputy Federal Trade Chamber of Physicians, Dan Pereţianu, co-payment amounts set for doctor consultations are high compared to other European countries, where the rate does not exceed 10 percent of the service.

"Insurance house pays for a specialist consultation 13 RON or 16 RON, on average, and the co-payment is 5.7 lei.

"This means between 38 percent and 43 percent of the payment, which is absolutely unacceptable," said Dan Pereţianu.

The Federal Chamber of Physicians Trade Union claims that the introduction of co-payment in its current form will cause a cluster of hospital emergency room, because people will prefer to access emergency medical services which are free.
Co-payment:

The minimum charge for a consultation is 4 lei and the maximum can reach 90 lei.

Co-payment does not apply to emergency medical services
Nursing areas for which the co-payment is charged:
primary health care

ambulatory medical care for clinical specialties, including recovery and Endocrinology and ambulatory care provided in the skills / qualifications of complementary studies in phyto-therapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, and family planning;
ambulatory medical care for laboratory specialties
hospital care

Tags: co-payment, medical care, The Federal Chamber of Physicians Trade Union, Vasile Cepoi, Cartel ALFA, Toader Paraschiv

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea
MTTLC, Bucharest University