CNAS supports the 20% reduction in hospital beds: “The question is not if we have to reduce, but how and where”
The analysis of the real need for continuous hospitalization beds is a necessary and inevitable step, said on Saturday the president of the National Health Insurance Company (CNAS), Horațiu-Remus Moldovan, in a press release, quoted by Agerpres.
In the context of the Government Decision regarding the approval of the number of beds at the national level, the Ministry of Health proposed to reduce them by approximately 20% in the next 3 years, of which approximately 4,600 beds must be reduced this year.
“The right question is not if we need to cut, but how and where to do it. There are hospitals that can and even want to cut hundreds of beds. At the same time, the current system has unfortunately encouraged the artificial maintenance of a large number of beds, because it influences the maximum amount that can be contracted with health insurance companies. In reality, for most hospitals, these amounts remain theoretical, never being fully absorbed. Worse, this approach has led to imbalances major: oversized personnel schemes in non-performing departments and, at the same time, deficit in areas where the activity is intense and necessary”, says the CNAS representative.
The president of the CNAS states that he requested the health insurance companies, together with the public health directorates (DSP), to carry out a detailed analysis for each individual hospital.
He argued that the reduction in the number of beds must be correlated with the actual activity of the hospital and the medical service needs of the population served.
The problem at the Bucharest Oncological Institute “is not the lack of funding”
“Information has appeared in the public space regarding the situation at the Bucharest Oncological Institute (IOB), where oncological patients were allegedly sent home on the grounds that 'there is no money from the House'. This statement does not reflect reality,” stated Horațiu-Remus Moldovan.
According to CNAS data:
- on 31.03 there is a stock of 811,020 lei;
- on 01.04 an additional act was concluded for the National Oncology Program (cost-volume) in the amount of 12,272,000 lei;
- on 20.04 additional requests were made, resulting in a total requirement of 13,927,338 lei, of which 1,659,080 lei for 30-day buffer stock;
- on 29.04 a new additional act was approved for the month of May in the amount of 12,180,217 lei.
In addition, the head of CNAS claims, the average monthly consumption reported by the institute is 11,185,160 lei, which shows that the funding related to April covers the reported need.
“These figures prove that the problem is not the lack of funding itself, but the way it is managed and organized at the unit level. Situations like those reported at the IOB can and must be avoided. For this, the change must be fundamental, including in the way we analyze and finance hospitals”, says Horațiu-Remus Moldovan.
Romania has a deficit of 3,000 palliation beds
According to the president of CNAS, the beds that will be reduced are not those used for patients, but those that remain constantly unoccupied and that “distort” the funding of the system.
At the same time, says Horațiu-Remus Moldovan, based on the analyzes and proposals coming from the territory, CNAS encourages hospitals to propose contracting palliative care beds – a seriously undersized field in Romania.
Currently, says the CNAS representative, there is an estimated deficit of approximately 3,000 palliation beds, which means that many patients suffer at home, in the care of their families, without adequate and dignified medical support.
Hospital beds, reduced by 14,000 in the next 3 years
The number of beds intended for continuous hospitalization will be reduced by 14,000, in stages, during the next three years, the Executive decided on Wednesday, through a decision approved in the government meeting.
The interim Minister of Health, Cseke Atilla, stated that Romania is among the countries with the highest number of beds per 100,000 inhabitants, over 700, while the European Union average is 511.
The interim Minister of Health stated, during a press conference held on Wednesday at the Victoria Palace, that it is the third such plan adopted by Romania.
Specialists believe that the optimal bed occupancy rate at a hospital is around 80%, Cseke Attila also said.
“This national bed plan does not in any way affect the quality of the medical services provided from here on in the health units with beds. If the EU average is 511 beds per 100,000 inhabitants, Romania has an average of 728 beds per 100,000 inhabitants. We are on the podium, in third place, as the highest number of beds per 100,000 inhabitants”, said the interim minister, quoted by Agerpres.
Hospital lobby. Photo: Dreamstime
