Rogobete: Healthcare Reforms Cannot Be Made Abruptly and by Force

Former Minister of Health Alexandru Rogobete warns that any changes to the healthcare system must be introduced gradually and with caution. In his view, measures applied abruptly, without prior consultation and without a genuine assessment of existing problems, jeopardise the overall functioning of the system. He argues that any reform should begin from the concrete situation in hospitals and other medical services.

"Reforms cannot be carried out abruptly or with a hatchet"

Rogobete describes the healthcare system as "a living organism", in which any intervention generates a chain of effects across the entire structure. The former minister believes that the current difficulties demonstrate the consequences of implementing reforms without a preparatory stage and without maintaining a balance.

"I have said that the healthcare system is like a living organism. Reforms in the healthcare system cannot be carried out abruptly or with a hatchet, because they destabilise the system. The current situation is proof of that. I believe that if we sit down together in a balanced way, grounded in reality, acknowledging the system's problems — which no one denies — and with a mindset that allows us to build and develop this system in stages, I think things will become even clearer," Alexandru Rogobete stated.

Changes built through dialogue

The former minister advocates for a process in which decisions regarding healthcare are discussed before being implemented, without disregarding the system's real problems. He believes that healthcare reform must be carried out in several stages, so that each measure can be implemented without undermining the stability of medical services. His statements come amid ongoing debates about how Romania's healthcare system should be reorganised and developed.