Alexandru Rogobete warns that ambulances could run out of money for fuel from October 1

Former Health Minister Alexandru Rogobete warned on Saturday, in Deva, that ambulances risk running out of money for fuel from October 1, amid imbalances in the healthcare system’s funding. He called for an urgent increase in the Health Ministry’s budget from the Government’s Reserve Fund.

Rogobete said the problems particularly affect emergency departments, ambulance services and programs for critically ill patients, including those treated for heart attacks, strokes, severe burns and multiple trauma, as well as patients in intensive care and neonatology units.

According to the Social Democratic Party (PSD) lawmaker, the healthcare budget was depleted more quickly because of the VAT increase, inflation, energy costs and fuel prices. He explained that the number of emergencies and patients cannot be estimated precisely at the beginning of the year, making budget revisions necessary.

Rogobete maintains that the interim government is currently unable to carry out a budget revision and recalls that last year the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance House received additional funds in September and October. In his view, the only immediate solution is to allocate money from the Reserve Fund.

The statements were made during a visit to the Deva County Emergency Hospital, an institution subordinated to the Hunedoara County Council.