Resource Library

Financing and Training Needs of Small-Scale Private Health Care Providers and Distributors in Romania: Market Research Series Report #1

Market Research Series: The Banking on Health Project has developed a series of country-specific market research reports on the private health sector. This market research examines private health care providers' financing and business development needs. It also explores service provision, focusing on reproductive health and family planning services. The market research provides information to financial institutions that are interested in lending to this sector. This information can be used for loan product development and designing marketing strategies. The Banking on Health Project uses the market research to design business development services for the private health sector. The market research also is shared with policy-makers who are interested in engaging the private health sector. This report assesses the business development needs, particularly financial and training, of private health care providers and distributors of reproductive health and family planning products and services in Romania. That information will be used to develop a program to expand access to financing for the private health sector. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study examined family doctors under contract with the National Health Insurance House (NHIH), obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) in private practice, other private medical clinics, rural pharmacies, and product distributors. A total of 1, 215 family doctors were surveyed in all 42 Romanian districts. Findings from this research show that family doctors struggle under the NHIH capitated health system to reinvest and improve their practices. They are surviving financially, but need additional inputs to improve their practices by purchasing equipment, renovating facilities, and adding services. Family doctors cited access to finance, better contract terms, ownership of facilities, and training as factors that can improve their practices. Independent pharmacies and family doctors would benefit from minor policy changes that would enable their businesses to function and improve using external finance.