“Rogobete to clarify the situation of investments in hospitals from PNRR”. Voiculescu demands explanations from the resigned minister / What assurances the official recently gave
The former Minister of Health, Vlad Voiculescu, on Thursday asked the resigned Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, to clarify the state of investments in hospitals in PNRR, claiming that some of the projects were delayed, moved to other funding sources or abandoned.
In a statement and a post on Facebook, Voiculescu claims that Alexandru Rogobete, who coordinated the health component of the PNRR for about four and a half years, should present the status of the investments before leaving the position.
“Before he leaves, I think he should clarify the situation of investments in hospitals in PNRR. So that we know how we are,” Voiculescu wrote.
“Alexandru Rogobete (PSD) was a minister for 10 months. However, he was coordinator of the PNRR Health from December 6, 2021 until today. 4.5 years. First as Rafila's personal adviser, then as secretary of state in February 2023 (the month in which the Ciuca Government approved the list of 27 hospitals), then deputy and president of the Health Commission in the Chamber of Deputies, then minister,” continued Voiculescu.
According to the former Minister of Health, Rogobete had declared in October 2024, as Secretary of State for the PNRR and PSD candidate for the Chamber of Deputies, that “Romania no longer has a single euro to draw from the PNRR for hospitals” and that there are no projects without a chance of completion by June 2026,
Voiculescu continues by saying that the current situation looks different.
“In April 2026, of these 27 hospitals:
1 is functional. The new building of the Bistrita County Hospital, inaugurated in December 2025. It is the first new building of a county hospital built in Romania after the Revolution.
7 should be ready in July-August 2026, if the pace declared by Minister Rogobete is respected.
9 were removed from the PNRR and moved to the 2021-2027 Health Program, with a deadline of 2028. All in theory, of course.
6 were taken out of the PNRR as early as September 2023 and placed on EIB loan. Also declarative. And the money from a possible EIB loan is money that we pay, it is no longer non-refundable.
3 were completely cut: Piatra Neamț (promised after the 2020 ATI fire that killed 10 patients), Brașov and Lugoj. They are no longer being built,” explained Voiculescu, former USR Minister of Health.
Rogobete explained that only 8 hospitals remained in the PNRR. The rest, transferred to other EU funds
Rogobete explained at the beginning of the month, in an interview granted to G4Media, that only 8 hospitals remained in the PNRR.
“We are not perfect and there is always room for improvement, but as imperfect as we are, today Romania has 22 new hospital sites under construction, unprecedented. Eight of them remained with funding from the PNRR, one has already been put into use, another seven will be completed by July 2026, the financial year from the PNRR. Nine of them have been moved to the Health Operational Program, all non-reimbursable European funds and here the average degree of execution is somewhere at 40%, so they have practically also these nine will be completed, but they have a longer term, 2028, being another financial year. The two centers of serious burns, the first in an apotheotical end, very late it is true, are completed”, declared Alexandru Rogobete.
Rogobete assured that they will be ready on time, namely in the summer of 2026.
“This summer, Timișoara and Târgu Mureș will also be able to receive patients. The constructions are completed, now equipment, circuits are being installed (…) think that the construction site is actually in Timișoara. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. The first sod was laid on June 4, 2023, so here we are, 3 years away, talking about a hospital built from scratch. This after 10 years, some have gave his opinion on how they should or should not be done”, Minister Alexandru Rogobete also said.
