Romania
In emergencies, call 112 for help.
Sudden illness and access to treatment in Romania
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to medically necessary treatment whilst staying temporarily in Romania.
Medically necessary treatment refers to treatment that cannot wait for your return home.
You can receive medically necessary treatment, for example, for:
- a sudden illness
- an accident
- pregnancy and childbirth
- a chronic illness
If your medical condition requires regular treatment while abroad, please contact the healthcare provider in advance to arrange your treatment.
Please note the following:
- If you do not have a card or it is not accepted, you will have to pay the costs of treatment yourself. In this case, you can apply for reimbursement from Kela afterwards.
- The European Health Insurance Card does not guarantee treatment free of charge, but gives you the right to medically necessary treatment on the same terms and at the same cost as for local residents.
- It is also advisable to carry a paper copy of the card with you.
- If the healthcare provider does not have an agreement with a health insurance fund, you will have to pay for the treatment yourself.
Doctor in Romania
Make an appointment with a general practitioner or a specialist who has a contract with one of the health insurance houses. At the reception, present your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. Primary healthcare services are free of charge, but you will have to pay a co-payment for other services.
Dentist in Romania
You can receive treatment from dentists who have a contract with one of the Health Insurance Houses. These dentists provide certain basic treatments free of charge. You will have to pay for other types of treatment yourself.
Emergency dental care and urgent medical care are free of charge. Dental care is also free of charge for patients under the age of 18 when provided by a dentist who has a contract with a Health Insurance House.
Medication in Romania
To obtain medication from a pharmacy in Romania, you must present a valid prescription. If you need to pay for the medicine partly or in full, you can apply for reimbursement of the costs when you return to your home country. The amount of reimbursement is based on a reference list that categorizes medicines into four groups according to the level of reimbursement. More information about medicine reimbursements is available on the website of the European Commission.
Children under the age of 18, students and apprentices aged 18 to 26, and pregnant women are entitled to certain prescribed medicines free of charge.
The validity of a prescription depends on the purpose for which the medicine has been prescribed. The prescription is valid for:
- a maximum of 48 hours for medication prescribed for acute conditions
- a maximum of 30 days for medication prescribed for chronic conditions.
When a patient is discharged after a hospital stay, the doctor can issue a prescription valid for up to one month. However, if the doctor deems it necessary, they may issue a written statement extending the validity of the prescription to a maximum of three months.
Hospital treatment in Romania
In case of an emergency, you can go directly to a hospital. Make sure that the hospital has a contract with one of the Health Insurance Houses.
At the hospital, present your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. You will need to pay a deductible for hospital care and for certain services (such as laboratory tests and imaging). If you request additional services, such as a larger room, you will need to cover these extra costs yourself.
Emergency ambulance services in Romania are provided by county ambulance services and are free of charge for the patient. Air ambulance services are only available within Romania’s land borders in extreme emergencies, such as serious traffic accidents, critically ill patients, or other acute situations. Air ambulances may also be used in critical cases where the hospital is unable to provide the necessary examinations or treatment.
Patient data in Romania
Remember to ensure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your healthcare provider with the patient records related to the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging the translation yourself.
Quality and safety of treatment in Romania
In the event of a treatment injury, the legislation and patient insurance of the country where the treatment was provided always apply. If you are not satisfied with the treatment you received, you should first try to resolve the matter directly with the healthcare provider.
If you wish to file a complaint, the Romanian National Contact Point can assist you in finding the appropriate authority.
Healthcare system in Romania
The Romanian healthcare system is public. The public healthcare sector is overseen and coordinated by the Romanian Ministry of Health. Social health insurance is mandatory. The National Health Insurance House (Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate, CNAS) operates at the national level and coordinates the activities of 43 regional health insurance houses.
If you plan to travel to Romania for healthcare services, please visit our website for general information about seeking treatment abroad. For specific questions about healthcare in Romania, contact the Romanian National Contact Point.
How much does treatment cost in Romania?
When you use healthcare facilities covered by a health insurance fund, you receive primary healthcare services free of charge, whilst you pay an excess for other services.
You must present your European Health Insurance Card and proof of identity at the healthcare facility.