Romania: 17 medics to quit hospital, citing mismanagement

BUCHAREST, Romania – Bucharest’s emergency hospital says 17 doctors resigned Wednesday from the busiest hospital in Romania’s capital, complaining of bad management.

The medics, who all work for the emergency intake department, claim they were mistreated by an interim manager who refused to buy equipment and used abusive language.

Bogdan Oprita, spokesman for the Floreasca Emergency Hospital, confirmed the resignations and said the medics quit due to “psychological pressure” from the manager. There are 225 doctors on the staff of the 731-bed facility.

Romania’s Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu called the doctors and the interim manager for talks later Wednesday at the ministry.

One of the medics at the emergency hospital, Alexandru Ciucioi, claimed there had been management problems for months.

Romania’s underfunded health system is plagued by allegations of mismanagement. Informal payments and bribes made to medical staff are widespread.