Private medical services market up by 12 pct last year to EUR 1.7bln

The market of private medical services increased in 2017 by 12 percent to EUR 1.7 billion, according to a survey by Mediprice.

The sector is one of the most dynamic in Romania, and has increased on average by 9.5 percent between 2011-2016. Overall, the total turnover of the first main private chains in Romania reached EUR 400 million.

“The special dynamic of the market shows a significant increase of the demand of the population for private medical services. In the past years, the instability of the public sector and the increase of the disposable income of the middle class contributed towards this. Unfortunately, Romania is one of the countries with the most reduced volume of information in the field of medical services, both from the perspective of patients, as well as from that of providers. This affects both the public sector, as well as the private one,” Eliza Pintilie, Mediprice general director said.

Between 2011-2016, the number of private hospitals in Romania doubled to over 200 units. The number of public hospitals dropped significantly, after 67 units were closed down on 1 April 2011. During the period surveyed, the number of private medical centres increased threefold, to over 600 units in 2016.