Healthcare spending in Romania exceeded €20 billion in 2024

In 2024, Romania spent over 108 billion RON (approximately 20 billion euros) on medical services and medicines, according to the most recent available data. Compared to the previous year, when the amount spent was 91 billion RON, this represents an increase of 18%.

The largest share of this money comes from monthly social health insurance contributions, paid by employees at a rate of 10% of their gross salary. Over 68 billion RON was collected from this source.

Nearly a quarter paid directly out of patients' pockets

A significant proportion of total expenditure – 24 billion RON, equivalent to 22% of the total – came directly from patients, through out-of-pocket payments for consultations, investigations, tests, or medicines. This proportion has remained relatively constant over time, regardless of how much money has entered the healthcare system as a whole.

This phenomenon is linked to the fact that, in recent years, a growing number of people who can afford to do so have chosen to pay privately for various medical services, in order to avoid waiting times in the public healthcare system – a system to which employed individuals already contribute on a monthly basis through mandatory contributions.