Romania Pledges Rough Anti-Corruption Measures In Healthcare

20 mai 2009, 12:44, English

Romanian health minister Ion Bazac said these measures represent a mere part of a package of anti-corruption measures targeting the country’s healthcare sector and stressed he is well aware the sector faces corruption.

During talks, the EC experts urged Bazac to take anti-corruption measures, while Bazac, in turn, said "he is aware the country’s healthcare system is one of the least reformed systems, which also faces corruption signaled both by people and the reports drafted by international bodies."

Some of the measures taken by Health Ministry officials consist in conducting an audit meant to monitor public purchases and check the integrity of medical staff in all hospitals, compelling hospital managers to publish expenses and purchases of the respective hospitals on a monthly basis, in order to render the use of funds more transparent.

Another measure aims to introduce the co-payment system and the minimum package of services, as of July 1, in order to wipe out informal payments in the healthcare sector. This measure was strongly backed by the World Bank, which even brought its contribution in this respect.

Moreover, applying an ampler set of measures aiming to fight and prevent corruption in the healthcare sector represents a prerequisite of the World Bank with respect to financing contracts.

Another anti-corruption measure consists in implementing certain tests to check the loyalty and integrity of medical staff, in a bid to reduce influence peddling and the conflict of interests.

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