Ministry of Health Reports 98 Million Lei Deficit in Healthcare System

The healthcare system currently faces a funding shortfall of 98 million lei - funds needed for staff salaries, operational costs for emergency departments, and the operation of ambulance services - Interim Health Minister Cseke Attila stated at a press conference. This amount will be temporarily covered through reallocations from other areas and programs within the Ministry of Health. While this solution secures funding through the end of October, a budget revision will be required for November and December. Of the total 98 million lei required: 36 million lei is earmarked for the salaries of staff in emergency departments at hospitals under the Ministry of Health's jurisdiction; 20 million lei is needed for operational costs at these units; 30 million lei will cover operational costs for emergency departments at hospitals under local authority jurisdiction; and 12 million lei is allocated for operational costs of county ambulance services. "In total, we have found an internal solution within the Ministry of Health's budget for this 98 million lei," Cseke Attila stated. According to the minister, 56 million lei will be reallocated from Ministry of Health programs to cover salaries and operational costs for emergency departments at ministry-run hospitals. Another 42 million lei will be transferred to cover operational costs for emergency departments at hospitals run by local authorities and to fund the operations of county ambulance services.

• Funds diverted from HIV/AIDS and "Mother and Child" programs

To meet requirements, the Ministry of Health will reallocate 26 million lei from the HIV/AIDS program, 7 million lei from the Transfusion Safety Program, and 3 million lei from the "Mother and Child" program. Attila Cseke noted that these programs had secured funding for December as well, but the funds would need to be replenished later. Regarding the 42 million lei earmarked for emergency units in local authority hospitals and ambulance services, the money will be reallocated from the budget for resident doctors' salaries. This amount, too, will need to be restored for December. "These are temporary, stopgap solutions," the minister emphasized.

• Ministry of Health needs 980 million lei by year-end

Attila Cseke stated that the deficit can only be covered in the long term by a fully empowered government capable of adopting a budget revision. The funding required for all Ministry of Health programs and activities during November and December is estimated at 980 million lei. The minister explained that nearly 500 million lei of this amount could come from releasing the 10% reserve mandated by the state budget law. He pointed out that this reserve can only be released through a budget revision.

• Over 600 million lei for programs managed by the CNAS

Attila Cseke also stated that, following discussions held this week with the president of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), commitment appropriations totaling over 600 million lei have been opened for programs managed by the CNAS.

According to the minister, these funds are intended to cover program financing through the end of October. The Ministry of Health also announced the reallocation of 21.5 million lei for the operation of emergency reception units and another 20 million lei for county ambulance services for the month of September.