Ambulance Services in 17 Counties Without Funding for September. Union Calls for Budget Rectification

Ambulance services in 17 counties across the country lack the necessary funding for September, the National Ambulance Trade Union Federation has warned. The Ministry of Health is attempting to cover material costs for this period using a special fund established for critical situations, whilst union representatives are calling for a budget revision for the final quarter of the year.

Among the affected counties are Argeș, Bacău, Bistrița Năsăud, Brașov, Brăila, Caraș Severin, Călărași, Galați, Hunedoara, Ialomița, Teleorman, Timiș and Tulcea, alongside other ambulance services across the country.

Gheorghe Chiș, president of the National Ambulance Trade Union Federation, explained, according to News.ro, that the budget allocated by the Romanian state for 2026 was set from the outset with restrictions and limitations, making it smaller than in previous years. This has led ambulance services to transfer funds from future quarters to those facing financial difficulties, in order to maintain their operations. The situation was reviewed at the quarterly meeting held at the beginning of September, where the 17 ambulance services running a budget deficit were identified, including for the third quarter.

Salaries are secured, but operational costs are at risk

According to the union leader, wages for ambulance staff are covered through to November inclusive, with only December remaining unfunded. The major problem lies with operational expenditure: fuel, repairs, servicing, medical equipment, ambulances, medical supplies and medicines.

The Ambulance Trade Union Federation has submitted a formal request to the Ministry of Health for a budget supplement of between 90,000 and 100,000 RON. "We are trying to make the President of Romania aware, first and foremost — given that we don't exactly have a government with full powers, so to speak — and to make Romanian politicians aware that something needs to be done," said Gheorghe Chiș.

An emergency fund provides short-term relief

To navigate the September crisis, the Ministry of Health is relying on a strategy that has been in place for around six to seven years, established in conjunction with the Emergency Medicine Directorate and the Budget Directorate: a reserve held at ministry level specifically for critical situations. From this fund, invoices and pro-forma invoices for urgent September expenditure can be reimbursed, with the final settlement made by the ministry at the end of the month.

Gheorghe Chiș also noted that, under the State Budget Law, 10% of the budget allocated for the fourth quarter must be retained as a reserve and cannot be transferred to previous quarters. This reserve, which could be supplemented by any budget revisions, might provide minimal support; however, the union leader warns that the fourth quarter spans three months and coincides with the start of winter, a period when costs are typically higher.

Risk of service reductions

Chiș described the current situation as an unprecedented crisis in terms of its duration, with no guaranteed immediate solution. In the event of a complete financial deadlock, the scenario under consideration involves prioritising grade-zero emergencies and red-code cases, whilst patient transfers and non-emergency transport could go unmet.

"These are serious matters. I don't know why — and I cannot understand why — politicians don't think these things through. Why don't they look at what this country actually needs? For the Romanian people?", concluded the president of the National Ambulance Trade Union Federation of Romania.