7.1 General context
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Main trends in the health conditions of young people
According to the Youth Barometer 2020, 86% of young people were content and very content with their health in 2020.
According to Eurostat data form 2018, 23% of mothers under 18 years of age in the EU are in Romania.
The incidence of suicides among adolescents aged 15-19 was 6.3 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants in 2010, approximately 50% higher than the European average. Romania reported a 7.2% rise compared to 2005, while the EU rate has seen a slight decline, according to Eurostat, cited by the National Health Strategy 2014-2020.
More than half of the young interviewed in 2020 for the Youth Barometer declared they are active (including practicing sports or walking) at least 30 minutes a day and avoid alcohol and tobacco to have a healthy lifestyle.
According to the 2022 Sports Yearbook data, there are major differences between counties as regards the availability of sports facilities and sport organisations. A total of 8 910 sport structures/organisations are actives in sport competitions and 112 935 young people participate to sport activities. The data show an increase in participation in sport in Romania in general and of young people in particular, an increase of about 20% in 2020 compared to data form 2017.
Daily consumption of fruit and vegetables is a habit for 58% of young people according to their replays to the Youth Barometer 2020. The figure increased from 55% of young people eating daily fruits and vegetables in 2018, according to their own declaration. Moreover, daily consumption of fast food among the young people decreased from 4% in 2018 to 2% in 2020 and the constant consumption (2-3 times a week) also decreased from 23% to 21% of young people.
According to the Youth Barometer 2020 smoking among young people increased from 29% in 2018 to 38% in 2020.
Constant alcohol consumption is constant with 10% of young people declaring in 2018 they and 2020 they are drinking alcohol every day or several times a week. Recreational alcohol consumption increased from 22% to 28% of young people drinking a few times a month and from 9% to 27% of young people drinking a few times a year.
9% of young people declared in 2020 they consumed dugs and the rate is constant compared to 2018.
The dynamic of children and youth morbidity according to the Assessment of the Physical Development and Health Status of Children and Youth, Based on Medical Exams in Urban and Rural Schools – 2019/2020 school year is reising from 25.3% in 2015 to 32% in 2020. Between 2003 and 2014 the children and youth morbidity was relativelly constant, with variations between 22.2% and 25%.
According to the report of the National Centre for Mental Health and Anti-Drug Fighting from in 2014, over 6 433 young people between 15 and 19 suffered from a mental health disorder, including anxiety, depression, autism, behavioural disorders or nutrition disorders. According to Eurofond, cited by the National Institute of Public Health in Romania, in 2016, about 12% of young people in Romania were at risk of depression, but the number of diagnosis was very low.
Main concepts
Health care in Romania is dominated by a public system which is financed mainly through mandatory social health insurance contributions. Employees contribute 10% of their monthly wage (according to the Fiscal Code). Children under 18, students, the unemployed and low-income persons are exempted from health insurance contribution. Adults are considered uninsured if they do not contribute to the health care fund, meaning they can only benefit free of charge from a basic health package which covers emergency care, pregnancy care, communicable disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment. The National Health Insurance House administers health care funds (according to the Law no. 95/2006 on Health Care System Reform).
Romanian General Practitioners are family doctors and have a gatekeeper role for the public system but not for the private system. This means that those benefiting from free services can't access any other service unless they are seen first by their family doctor. Most patients in Romania are registered with a family doctor of their choice, without limitations regarding the area in which they live. Patients can change the family doctor after a 6 month minimum period.
There are approximately 11 000 family doctors in Romania according to the national statistics. The average patient list size is 1 600 (minimum accepted limit for a contract with the Health Insurance House being 800 in urban areas with no limit for rural practices). Most family doctors work in single-handed practices.
No youth specific concepts are used by Romanian policy making in relation to youth health and well being.