First day of mandatory health card reveals system failures in Romania

The first working day when all medical services covered by the Romanian state had to be validated by the health card showed several failures in the system, according to the Romanian National Society of Family Medicine. The health card has become the instrument to validate and reimburse medical services provided by the basic package covered by Romania’s state as of May 1. However, May 4 was the first working day when both patients and doctors used the card. According to family doctors, the card activation was difficult and lengthy, and consultations lasted over an hour, reports local Economica.net. Pharmacies didn’t issue prescription drugs for the children whose parents refused or hadn’t received the card. Elsewhere, people were refused hospital admission, and surgeries had to be postpone, as patients did not have their health cards yet. The state sent most cards by post but many Romanians still have to pick theirs up from the National Health Insurance House. In Bucharest, over 1,000 people queued to get their card on May 4. Family doctors have asked the National Health Insurance House to allow the consultation by card, and the conventional one, until the failures in the system are solved. editor@romania-insider.com