Three new burn centers might be opened in Romania’s Iasi, Timisoara and Targu Mures, in collaboration with French experts and with money from the World Bank and the European structural funds. Moreover, the center in Bucharest could also be upgraded.

Marc Chaouat, Secretary General of the French Society for the Study and Treatment of Burns, and Vincent De Broucker, the head of the service center for treatment of burn victims of the Lille hospital center, made the announcement during a conference at the French Embassy.

The two experts said that the delegation was scheduled months ago and it is only a tragic coincidence that they’ve arrived in Romania after the fire at Colectiv club, reports local Mediafax. Their collaboration with Romanian specialists started in 2013.

According to Vincent De Broucker, the original purpose of their visit to Romania was an exchange of experience in the treatment of severe burns.

Meanwhile, the burn unit of the Floreasca Hospital in Bucharest remained unused after the recent tragedy at Colectiv club. The clinic was never functional although the building was completed in 2010, reports local Digi24. The work and the equipment required total investments of EUR 8.5 million.

None of the 14 victims admitted in critical condition at Floreasca Emergency Hospital was taken to the clinic equipped with high-performance equipment. One of the reasons might be that the patients’ condition doesn’t allow this kind of treatment. However, the burn unit has only five beds, insufficient for the 14 victims, and lacks the necessary staff, reports Digi24.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com