Fifteen hospitals are being built with funding from the Resilience Facility, according to Romania's health minister.
Romania is witnessing a significant expansion in its healthcare infrastructure, with nearly 20 hospitals currently under construction across the country. This ambitious project, spearheaded by the Romanian government and supported by international organisations like the World Bank, is set to revolutionise the nation's healthcare system.
According to Alexandru Rogobete, the Minister of European Investments, 15 hospitals are already under construction, financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). However, the exact funding source for specific hospitals under the PNRR—grant or loan—is not explicitly detailed in the available search results.
The PNRR aims to absorb all available non-reimbursable funds while transferring mature projects to the loan component if necessary. This indicates that some hospital projects under the plan may be funded either by grants or loans, depending on their maturity and risk profile.
The health system reform under the PNRR has allocated over 2.4 billion euros to healthcare reform, which includes funding for hospital construction or modernisation. Yet, precise hospital construction projects are not named nor specifically defined as grant- or loan-funded in the results.
There is an emphasis on digitalisation and infrastructure improvement in hospitals, suggesting investments in modernisation rather than new hospital constructions. Meanwhile, broader health and social care reforms funded by the PNRR emphasise long-term care and social services infrastructure upgrades but do not list individual hospital construction projects or their funding sources.
Unfortunately, not all hospital construction projects are progressing smoothly. The contract for a hospital in Lugoj was terminated after being contested five times and failing to meet deadlines. Tenders for the Pneumoftiziology Hospital in Brasov have been delayed, and the hospital in Neamt is facing legal contests, preventing the signing of the financing contract.
Despite these challenges, the hospital-building effort is the most significant Romania has seen in over three decades, according to Alexandru Rogobete. He also mentioned that it is the first time in 35 years that Romania is building 12 brand new hospitals, plus three more funded through credit.
However, it's important to note that the final allocation of funding for the hospitals has not yet been confirmed, and funding negotiations are still ongoing. In fact, five healthcare units originally slated for PNRR financing will no longer receive funding. Out of the 24 medical facilities that signed financing contracts, the number was reduced to 19 in 2023.
Despite these setbacks, the ongoing construction of nearly 20 hospitals represents a significant step forward for Romania's healthcare system. For the most up-to-date details, official Romanian government or Ministry of European Investments communications would be the best source.
- The expansion of Romania's healthcare infrastructure, primarily funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), is not only limited to hospital constructions but also involves significant investments in digitalization and infrastructure improvement, closely associated with the health-and-wellness and industry sectors.
- The financing for the hospitals under the PNRR, whether they are grants, loans, or a combination of both, is still under negotiation, which could have implications on the medical-conditions sector, especially given the financial component of the projects.
