Romanians pay out of pocket a third of medical costs, as shown by a recent study cited by the president of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), Horațiu Moldovan.
The head of the institution warns that the level of direct contribution – „30% of healthcare expenses” – is well above the European average.
In this context, Moldovan supports the expansion of complementary insurance and the introduction of tax incentives for those who choose such policies.
"You probably find it strange that a president of the Health Insurance House, which is a social health insurer, is talking about complementary insurance.
Let me tell you why I'm talking about these things: because, as the public opinion could observe, at least from the study published by the Academy of Economic Studies about half a year ago, 30% of healthcare expenses, at the moment, are covered by whom? By the patient.
Out of 10 lei, the patient takes out 3 lei from their pocket. This is not normal, it doesn't happen anywhere in the civilized world, in civilized Europe this doesn't happen," stated the president of CNAS on Wednesday evening, on Medika Tv.
He emphasized that there are situations in other countries where patients pay for medical services, but the amount is far from 30%, precisely because each country has, in addition to the social health service insurer, also complementary insurers, which can be either state-owned or private.
Moldovan supported the introduction, following the example of other countries, of tax incentives for those who also take out complementary health insurance, "so that both the employer and the employee are tempted to spend a certain amount on complementary health insurance through these tax incentives."