Family Physicians' Opinion: A Survey on Possible Measures for Improving Healthcare in Romania

Abstract

Primary health care (PHC) represents one of the most important parts of any health system, and consists of first-contact medical services (preventive, curative and rehabilitation) for the patients. Our study analyses the family physicians' opinions related to a series of measures that could improve Romania's healthcare system through an online survey.We identified three components, first one related to control over spendings, increase of medicine market efficiency and transparency in using public funds, second one related to standardization of care processes, accreditation, implementation of guidelines and control over utilization of specialty services and component number three related to type of insurance houses, with competition among them, better decentralization and integrated provision of medical services.The conclusions of the survey emphasize the fac that primary care health is affected by sub optimal financing, with a need of better support for its development through investments in health promotion, services integragion and human resources as means of increasing general health status of the population.