Romania among the least prepared in the EU to face health challenges, GLOBSEC report shows

The index evaluates EU health systems across 38 indicators, including financing, infrastructure, workforce, prevention, innovation, and governance. Romania’s overall score is the second lowest in the Union, reflecting long-standing gaps across multiple dimensions.

Among the weakest areas is prevention spending, the lowest per capita in the EU, which limits public health and early detection efforts. Vaccination coverage also lags significantly, with HPV uptake below 20% of eligible girls. Distrust and misinformation further undermine prevention, as surveys reveal that many Romanians still view COVID-19 as an elite-driven plot.

Governance instability adds to the pressure: since 2000, the country has seen Health Ministers with an average tenure of less than one year, hindering long-term reforms. Lifestyle risks are also worsening, with alcohol consumption rising sharply over the past decade.

However, the report also points to strengths. Romania has one of the lowest adult obesity rates in Europe, which could serve as a foundation for stronger prevention and screening strategies.

“Romania’s healthcare system is under sustained pressure not because people aren’t working hard, but because the fundamentals—prevention, early diagnosis, access to innovation, and stable governance—are under-resourced,” said Martin Smatana, GLOBSEC Fellow. “The fix is not mysterious: health must become a strategic priority, with prevention, vaccination, and stable leadership at its core.”

According to GLOBSEC, Romania can close the gap with its EU peers if reforms are targeted and commitments sustained, redefining healthcare readiness in Central and Eastern Europe.