A new project to strengthen the competitiveness of Romanian medical tourism has been initiated by the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism in partnership with the Romanian Ministry of Health, CNAS (Romanian Social Fund) and CMR (College of Romanian Physicians).
Officials say that Romania has a health system equipped with modern equipment and trained doctors, who provide a high level service. In addition, Romania’s medical costs are much lower than in Western European countries.
The medical tourism industry in Romania claims to have attracted 60,000 patients from abroad in 2010, and it is probable that there were more in 2011. Most treatments were eye or dental surgery, but cardiac procedures have been conducted on medical tourists too.
The new alliance has agreed to join forces to promote the Romanian health system abroad and compile official statistics on medical tourism in Romania. The Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism has launched a database that lists every healthcare provider who is interested in treating patients from abroad. The database also provides information on hotels, medical facilities, private clinics, doctors and a list of prices for medical services provided.
Staff of the Romanian Ministry of Health and the College of Physicians will inspect healthcare facilities and evaluate doctors who work there in order to see if the services listed in the database are available and if the doctors are able to provide the necessary quality and standards.
Medical tourists can get a comprehensive full-service package containing the airfare, airport transfers, hotel accommodation, medical appointment at the chosen unit, and a sightseeing tour of the area. One of the most attractive regions for medical tourism might be Romania’s third largest city Iasi as it has many modern hospitals and clinics.
With one-third of all Europe’s mineral and thermal springs, Romania has a huge potential for health treatment based on natural cure factors. The curative properties of Romania’s many spas and health resorts have been used since Roman times. Located throughout all regions of Romania, they offer natural mineral and thermal springs, thermal lakes and naturally therapeutic mud, in a variety of locations and bio-climates, from higher altitudes of the Carpathian Mountains to the Black Sea coast.
Determined to put Romania on the tourism map as one of the world’s top destinations for health and wellness tourism, the Romanian Government has stepped in by making funds available for promotion, and also by selecting and licensing those health resorts that offer treatment conditions complying with EU and international standards. In so doing, the tourism and medical authorities guarantee the quality of treatment. Romania Tourism has launched a spa resorts guide with useful information about health resorts, and treatments available in Romania.
