Health System and Challenges in Romania: A Comprehensive Study

This report presents a case study of Romania's health landscape, exploring key health challenges and the government's responses. The introduction provides an overview of the country and its universal healthcare system. The main body delves into specific health issues, such as measles outbreaks and cirrhosis, detailing their impact on the population. It also examines the Romanian healthcare system's historical development and current policies, including insurance and public health initiatives. Furthermore, the report analyzes relevant health indicators to predict future health trends, including life expectancy and disease prevalence. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the importance of proactive health policies. The report uses data from various sources, including WHO, to support its analysis and provides a comprehensive understanding of the health situation in Romania. The report also highlights the economic and social factors affecting the health of the population. The report includes references to various sources used in the study.

Study case about
Romania

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Overview of health issues or challenges in the country...............................................................1
Discussion on health system in the country.................................................................................2
Prediction of health of population in the country through relevant health indicators.................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Romania is the country located on western shores of South-eastern Europe. The existing
population of the country is around 19224721 as per Worldometer elaboration of latest latest UN
data (Population of Romania, 2020). it is equivalent to 0.25% of total population of world. The
country offers multiple advantages of Universal healthcare system and each citizen is entitled to
unrestricted medical procedures as well as cost free healthcare facilities.
The case study project includes overview of main health challenges and the ways the
issues are tackled by the government. Further, it discusses about heath system of the country and
some trend analysis to predict future health of population that lives in the country.
MAIN BODY
Overview of health issues or challenges in the country
Health is said to state of mental, physical addition to social well-being wherein disease
are absent (Kriss and Et. Al., 2017). The world is facing aggregate health challenges which
ranges from occurrence of vaccine preventable disease such as growing obesity rates, measles
and diphtheria as well as physical inactivity to impacts on health due to environmental pollution
and diverse humanitarian crises. Romania is the country in which population are suffering from
large number of disease.
One of the disease, scale as well as nature of people affected from the heath challenge is
Measles which is is major outbreak of health challenge in Romania. It is highly contagious viral
disease and remains among leading cause of mortality as well as morbidity among young
children. The epidemic heath challenge spread in the year 2016 and its symptoms includes runny
nose, high fever, red rash, cough etc. If one person is suffering from the disease then 90% people
who are close to the infected person have high chances to get infected. The disease affects young
children and the virus of measles can live up to two hours in airspace. The reported cases of the
disease in Romania are around 16627 in late 2016 and 63 deaths on the same year. As per
Romanian Health Authorities, more than 1000 measles cases are confirmed in 2019 (Herriman,
2019). The government of Romania have tackled the issue through MMR Vaccine which is
effective along with safe. Two doses of the vaccine are nearby 97% effective to prevent measles
and one dose is 93% effective. The government have resolved shortage of supply of the vaccine
and ensured flexibility, continuity of supply in upcoming duration and simplified pricing
1

mechanisms. The ministry of country have also developed multi year plan for assessing
requirements for vaccine and amend legislation for purchase of vaccines for keeping process
predictable as well as transparent.
The other disease, scale and nature of people affected from the heath challenge is
Cirrhosis which is common in Romania. In the year 2010, Cirrhosis was on number three for
causing premature death. In 2013, 41 out of 100000 people died due to the disease in Romania.
The symptoms of the disease are gallstones, vomiting blood, kidney failure, easy bruishing,
weight loss, fluid build up in belly, toxins build in blood etc. It was seen that most deadly cases
of the disease are because of Hepatitis C as well as alcohol use. As per data published by WHO,
death in Romania because of liver disease or Cirrhosis have reached to 8763 or 3.75% of total
deaths (MILLEA, 2018). The government of Romania have tackled the issue through providing
facility of free treatment for the disease, organised and implemented a program by the name of
Social Security Disability to provide benefits to the social group which is suffering from
Cirrhosis for all its residents or to those who are not able to afford the treatment.
Discussion on health system in the country
In Romania, first concept of public health care came in 1700. In this, common practice
for overseas doctors was bought fro providing healthcare facilities to its upper class citizens.
Philanthropists ran their charity hospitals so to provide free healthcare services to peasants or
local residents (Szeman, 2017). On July 4, 1876, National Red Cross Society was established by
prime minister of Romania to initiate health care system. The access of healthcare was
guaranteed by Article 34 in Constitution of Romania have specified that the main obligation of
the state is “To guarantee sheltering of services related to healthcare”.
The historical relevant hospitals within the nation includes Coltea Hospital which have
been re equipped after huge investment and is now one of modern hospital in the country. The
others are Pantelimon Hospital, St. Spiridon Hospital, Filantropia Hospital etc which were
opened between the period of 1700 and 1800. Many of them still operates and provides health
care services to citizens of the nation (Alves, Flumerfelt and Kahlen, 2016). The nation have
also faced event of disease outbreaks such as HIV/AIDS since 1985, Measles in 2015 and many
other disease. Moreover, In 2006, Romania faced severe drought that influenced the ministry to
make necessary changes in its healthcare system for providing maximum healthcare to affected
people. The government have played major role in dealing with the events as vaccines were
2

supplied fastly, new provisions were enacted and many more care services were devised to
safeguard and cure people suffering from the disease.
In 2011, Government of Romania have proposed a completely new healthcare system in
which changes including privatisation of multiple number of hospitals addition to public clinics,
conversion of hospitals into Plc or charity organisation etc. Key healthcare policies designed and
implemented by the nation are insurance policy, pharmaceutical policy, public health policy,
mental health policy, policies concerned with public health like vaccination policy, breastfeeding
promotion policy, tobacco control policy etc for the purpose of financing as well as delivering
access to care, equity, care quality and many more. For example, Romanian Government have
made changes in its practices in 2015 and worked swiftly for decrease the disease. The
Government lowered vaccination age to 9 months from 12 months as well as distributed leaflets
in offices of doctor related to importance of vaccination and advance symptoms (Unguru and
Sandu, 2019). Moreover, government also made attempts for passing legislation and policies
mandating vaccination of children prior to they enter in school.
Prediction of health of population in the country through relevant health indicators
Health performance of Romania which is located in South-east European region have
achieved success in controlling the outbreak of disease through proper support of politicians
(Bryant, 2019). On the basis of data from WHO, it is analysed that in 2009, average life
expectancy was 71 which have improved to 77 in 2018. Moreover, the country have also
experienced improvements in cases of measles between 2016 to 2018.
3

Illustration 1: Distribution of cases of measles between Jan- 2010 to Jun- 2018. 2020
(Source: Distribution of cases of measles between Jan- 2010 to Jun- 2018. 2020)
From the graph, it is analysed that European region have achieved highest estimates
coverage for second dose for measles vaccination and its is estimated that the disease can be
stopped in future. It is interpreted that in the year 2016, there were high proportion of children
infected from the disease, however, availability of vaccination and regular dose to children have
reduces cases of measles in 2019. It is also analysed that with European Vaccine Action Plan, the
country will celebrate achievements in nearer future for improvements in recent years. Moreover,
it is also analysed that the death rate due to Cirrhosis have decreased as citizens have started
taking care of themselves and reduced consumptions of alcohol between period of 2007 to 2017.
It is also perceived that Romania is the country that is highly affected from economic
crisis. It have high exposure level of lack of balance as well as budgetary policies. Furthermore,
higher unemployment rate and inflation are key economic issues that impacts of policies as when
more people remains unemployed then they have more probability to consume alcohol or other
drinks that causes harm to their level and creates issues for healthcare system to work with
existing alcohol control policy. Moreover social issues such as poverty is a widespread
phenomena in the country that impacts on multiple healthcare policies as poverty rate of 15.60
influences the nation to provide free services to needy people that reduces revenues of
government to manage amendments of the policy. Due to lack of shelter for vulnerable
4

population that puts huge stress on political parties as well as social programs resulting to
affecting health system of the country (Cherry and Jacob, 2016).
CONCLUSION
From the assessment it have been concluded that health issue is the situation in which a
person unable to function in normal manner. The diseases which are contemporary health issues
are Measles and Cirrhosis. Government of the country have implemented various policies and
initiatives to tackle the issues. The government have supplied vaccine to cure the disease at far
places timely, improving number of dose and free cost treatment. Healthcare system was
originated in a nation for offering advantages of universal healthcare system to its citizens. Major
categories of policies within healthcare system includes international health policy, mental health
policy, tobacco control policy and many more. With changes in the system and policies, health of
population have improved in recent years.
5

REFERENCES
Population of Romania. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/romania-population/>
Kriss, J. L., and Et. Al., 2017. The World Health Organization Measles Programmatic Risk
Assessment Tool—Romania, 2015. Risk Analysis. 37(6). pp.1096-1107.
Herriman, R., 2019. Romania Measles Update: More than 1000 cases in 2019. [Online].
Available through: < http://outbreaknewstoday.com/romania-measles-update-1000-
cases-2019/>
MILLEA, V. Z., 2018. Evolution, in Romania, of alcohol consumption and changes in associated
harm, from a comparative European perspective. Social Research Reports. 10(2). pp.29-
50.
Szeman, I., 2017. Staging Citizenship: Roma, Performance and Belonging in EU Romania (Vol.
11). Berghahn Books.
Alves, A. C., Flumerfelt, S. and Kahlen, F. J. eds., 2016. Lean education: An overview of current
issues. Springer.
Unguru, E. and Sandu, A., 2019. Towards a Model of Supervision in Social Work Institutions in
the NE Region of Romania. Postmodern Openings/Deschideri Postmoderne. 10(3).
Bryant, J., 2019. Health and the developing world. Cornell University Press.
Cherry, B. and Jacob, S. R., 2016. Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management.
Elsevier Health Sciences.
Distribution of cases of measles between Jan- 2010 to Jun- 2018. 2020. [Online]. Available
through: <https://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2018/
measles-cases-hit-record-high-in-the-european-region>
Disease causing death in Romania. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.healthdata.org/romania>
6