Almost all private medical care providers have recently announced investments in the construction of hospitals, exceeding a total of €80 million. If these projects materialize, the number of beds in private hospitals will reach 600.
These investments are driven by a lack of satisfaction in public health care.
“We will make a decision in early 2008, and will open a hospital in 2009 or 2010,” said Marina Otelea, General Manager of Medicover.
The largest private hospital in Romania belongs to Medlife, with 100 beds, and the investment exceeded €10 mln.
Medsana has now announced an investment of €25 mln in a larger 200-bed hospital.
Investing in private hospitals gives operators the possibility of providing complete health care services, independent of the public system. Many doctors prefer to work for private hospitals, but they retain their jobs in public hospitals believing that this work is better for their professional status.
Today estimated to be worth €250 mln, the private medical care system could reach €1 billion in the coming four years. This rapid growth justifies investor interest.
According to the numbers, some 300,000 people in Bucharest are willing to pay up to €100 per month for private medical care.
