Study: Young, affluent and highly educated Romanians likely to choose private healthcare, bribing of doctors common

A new study shows that 67 percent of Romanians visited the doctor at least once in the last year, be it at a hospital, clinic or a local doctor's surgery. Some 42 percent of those interviewed expressed a preference for private healthcare over the state health service, according to a study carried out by Romanian private healthcare provider MedLife.

But the MedLife investigation also found clear evidence of the practice of bribing medical professionals. Some 31 percent of respondents admitted to giving medical staff money or gifts.

The study reveals demographic discrepancies in the use of private healthcare. Generally the younger, the more highly educated, the more urban and better paid people are, the more likely they are to choose private healthcare. Some rural areas have extremely limited private health options, while the big cities, in particular Bucharest, have a wide range of private hospitals and clinics.

The level of awareness of private healthcare options in Bucharest appears to be pretty high. At least 75 percent of respondents knew of the top private healthcare firms in Bucharest, such as MedLife, Regina Maria and Sanador.

Over a thousand people from around Romania were surveyed for the study in March this year.

MedLife has operated in Romania since 1996, and claims to be the largest private health services operator on the local market.

The company covers outpatient hospitals, maternity wards, laboratories and pharmacies. Currently MedLife operates in nine hyper-clinics in Bucharest, Timisoara, Brasov and Arad, eight analysis laboratories, six hospitals in Bucharest, Brasov and Arad, including pediatrics, orthopedics and obstetrics-gynecology hospitals. The firm runs three maternity units, 28 GP centers, nine specialized centers, six pharmacies under the PharmaLife Med brand and collaborates with 135 partner clinics across the country.

(photo source: MedLife)