Private healthcare facilities continued to gain ground in Romania against the public ones in 2011. This year, private investors placed over EUR 100 million in new private clinics and hospitals in the country. Most of them opened in Bucharest, followed by Brasov and Pitesti. Romania-Insider.com looked at the main private hospitals and clinics openings in 2011.  

By Irina Popescu 

Private healthcare services provider Sanador, controlled by Romanian businessman Florin Andronescu, opened this year the first private hospital in the chain, with the largest amount invested in a private hospital in 2011, of EUR 40 million. The hospital features 290 beds and is located downtown Bucharest, close to Victoriei Square, on Sevastopol street.

Romanian private healthcare operator MedLife opened several private medical facilities in 2011. In June MedLife has opened a pediatric hospital in Bucharest, following an investment of EUR 13.5 million. The new hospital, on 5,200 sqm, has a total capacity of 132 beds and can cater to around 400 patients a month. It is close to the Aurel Vlaicu  metro station, in the Chinese Embassy area. Find more about it here.

In September Romanian private health care operator MedLife opened a new hospital in Brasov and acquired the Eva maternity in the city, along with two other previous acquisitions, with a total budget of EUR 10 million. Read more here.

In October, MedLife has invested EUR 1 million in opening the DermaLife dermatology clinic in Bucharest. The clinic covers all areas of dermatology and includes an operation room as well. More here.

In December the private healthcare operator has opened its first orthopedics hospital in Bucharest, following an investment of EUR 8.5 million. On some 2,000 sqm and three floors, the new hospital in the Eastern part of Bucharest (on Ferdinand boulevard) is in a building formerly occupied by telecom operator Romtelecom. Read more here.

Romanian private medical care provider Regina Maria, founded by Dr. Wargha Enayati and his wife, Mitra Enayati, also opened several clinics and hospitals in Romania in 2011. The former Centrul Medical Unirea and the  acquired Euroclinic together re-branded under the name Regina Maria this year.

Regina Maria opened a new clinic in September this year, in the Floreasca area in Bucharest with an investment that amounts at about EUR 2 million. The new Floreasca clinic covers  2,000 sqm and includes the first pharmacy of the network- Centrala Pharmacy, and a full range of ambulatory services, including nutrition and personal development service. More about it here.

In June, the Romanian Regina Maria also opened the first free clinic in Bucharest. The clinic, located in Baba Novac/Dristor area, addresses all social cases, including the homeless in Bucharest, and the uninsured. Read more here. Also in June, Regina Maria also opened its first clinic within a mall in Bucharest. The new clinic, which covers 1,000 sqm in Sun Plaza shopping center South of Bucharest, required an investment of EUR 1.7 million. Find more here.

Private healthcare operator Delta Health Care, controlled by a group of eight Romanian investors, opened the Delta Hospital in Bucharest this year, with EUR 13 million. The hospital covers a total area of 10,000 sqm and a capacity of around 50 beds. Find more here.

Turkish company European Center opened in May this year its first eye hospital, called Eye Center, with USD 20 million. The new hospital is located in Tineretului area in the capital city and covers an area of 10,000 sqm.

Romanian SIF Muntenia invested EUR 12 million in 2011 in a private hospital in the Romanian city of Pitesti. The hospital has more than 25 specialties, medical analysis laboratory, equipment for diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases and glaucoma investigation.

Teo Health, controlled by pharmaceutical retailer Ropharma and two individual investors, invested EUR 20 million in a new hospital in Brasov in 2011, on the site of the former Colgate factory in the city. The Sfantul Constantin hospital covers 9,000 sqm and features five sections, totaling 73 beds. Read more here.

Minovici Medical Development opened the Minovici Medical Center private clinic in Bucharest this year, following an investment of EUR 2 million, and also plans to invest EUR 300 million in the University Hospital – Minovici Medical City in the next four years. Read more about it here.

More than half of Romanians – 57 percent – have more confidence in the private health care facilities than in the public ones, according to a study conducted in September by IMAS and private healthcare operator MedLife.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sxc.hu)