The healthcare system and the provision of oral healthcare in European Union member states: Part 5: Romania

Abstract

Romania is one of the newest member states of the European Union (EU). It has 13 dental schools, 14,841 dentists and 2,935 dental technicians providing oral health care for a population, at 31 December 2014, of 21.3 million. The shift from a communist system to a democratic or capitalist society has contributed to an enormous change in the proportion of public and private sector oral health services. The lack of public funds during the post-communist years has contributed to a dependency on private oral healthcare rather than the government financed public provision. Affordability and social awareness have together established a mixed economy for oral health care costs and oral healthcare is growing slowly compared with other developed EU member states. At the same time, there has been overproduction of new dentists (currently 1500 graduate annually). This has led to un and under-employment and emigration of dentists to other EU member states. This paper explains the current oral healthcare system in Romania and changes in recent years.

The perception of the educational environment in multinational students from a dental medicine faculty in Romania

“…As such, there is considerable interest in enrolment in a tertiary dental education programme, which lasts for 6 years. However, in recent years there has been an overproduction of new dentists, which led to unemployment and emigration . After graduation, the students must be highly qualified and competitive to work abroad.…”

A pilot study on the effectiveness of a 2‐year school‐based oral health educational programme using experiential learning among adolescents

“…Despite important improvements in oral health in many Eastern European countries, a long transition period from a communist system in Romania has been characterized by many challenges (such as improving the living conditions of the population, a steady growth of the economy, educational modernization). Over 90% of the dental services are still financed privately, and only some public support for children under the age of 18 is given . As a result, very little emphasis has been given to preventive and conservative oral health care at the individual and community levels, which has meant that only 0.37% of the medical expenses are allocated for dentistry .…”

“…As a result, very little emphasis has been given to preventive and conservative oral health care at the individual and community levels, which has meant that only 0.37% of the medical expenses are allocated for dentistry . According to the European Platform for Better Oral Health published in 2012, Romania is situated last among the EU member states in terms of per capita expenditure on oral health . In Romania, the caries prevalence has decreased since the early 1990s, but at the same time, an increase of untreated caries lesions has been found …”

“…Over 90% of the dental services are still financed privately, and only some public support for children under the age of 18 is given. 3 As a result, very little emphasis has been given to preventive and conservative oral health care at the individual and community levels, which has meant that only 0.37% of the medical expenses are allocated for dentistry. 4 According to the European Platform for Better Oral Health published in 2012, Romania is situated last among the EU member states in terms of per capita expenditure on oral health.…”

“…4 According to the European Platform for Better Oral Health published in 2012, Romania is situated last among the EU member states in terms of per capita expenditure on oral health. 3 In Romania, the caries prevalence has decreased since the early 1990s, but at the same time, an increase of untreated caries lesions has been found. [5][6][7] For oral health promotion, it is important to prioritize adolescents, since appropriate personal dental hygiene and dietary habits are established during that period of life.…”