There is a widespread debate on the high prevalence of informal payments in the health sector in Romania, even if the exact magnitude is unknown. The 2024 Eurobarometer data shows a decrease of respondents who reported having made an extra payment or a gift to a nurse or doctor or donated to the hospital where they received treatment in the previous 12 months from 19% in 2019 to 7%. This is still well above the EU average of 3%. The measures taken against the informal payments were
- strengthening the legislation in this area and
- increasing the salaries of the health personnel.
Since making gifts is firmly rooted in Romanian culture, a recently adopted measure provides patients with the legal framework to make donations to the medical institution, if they want to, instead of offering under-the-table payments to the health personnel. This measure may increase transparency over the direct payments made by patients.