The Minister of Health is considering dismissing doctors who leave public hospitals early to work at private practices

Minister of Health Alexandru Rogobete announced on Monday evening, November 9, that he is considering terminating the employment contracts of doctors who leave public hospitals before the end of their workday to go to private practices. The statement was made to Euronews after the minister reported cases in which patients were allegedly directed to private practices.

Rogobete announced a nationwide inspection that is expected to last two to three months. Inspectors will check patient appointments, doctors’ attendance records, and services reimbursed by the National Health Insurance House.

The minister said that, without giving prior notice, he called hospitals in Timișoara, Iași, Bucharest, Constanța, and Sibiu to schedule an outpatient appointment. He identified both positive examples and situations in which he was not answered, received a delayed response, or was told that there were no available appointments until next year.

According to the minister, the checks could reveal fictitious appointments if the number of patients listed in the schedules is much higher than the number of reimbursed services. He also criticized the practice of doctors who leave during working hours to go to their own practices, but emphasized that he does not want to generalize, as there are also medical professionals who work overtime and make additional efforts.