Almost 80% of the hospitals in Romania should be closed if rules were applied, health minister Vlad Voiculescu said yesterday.

Moreover, almost a third of the local hospitals currently operate in buildings with a seismic risk, he added, reports local Mediafax.

At the beginning of his term, Voiculescu made an identical statement, saying that almost 80% of hospitals in Romania should be closed if rules were applied. He said that he still stands by his statement.

“It was a statement that shocked many. I believe, however, that you must call things by their name,” Voiculescu said.

Vasile Cepoi, the president of the National Authority of Health Quality Management, said that the monitoring of accredited hospitals will begin next week. Unannounced controls will take place where reports are not credible.

According to Cepoi, there are 429 accredited hospitals in Romania, 70% of which have reported high conformity levels of over 85%. The list of accredited hospitals includes both public and private hospitals.

editor@romania-insider.com