The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, announced the launch in decision-making transparency of an order proposing important changes in the way of organizing medical activity in hospitals. Among them, the reorganization of the operating blocks, which would operate 12 hours a day, by organizing them in shifts. But also the introduction of new types of guards. Patients would thus have greater access to medical services. According to the minister, the changes aim to “reset the health system” and adapt it to current needs, in the context of 2026.
Extended program in the operating room
One of the most important proposed changes is the expansion of the program in the operating room. It would operate between 08:00 and 20:00, by organizing the activity in two successive shifts.
“The second shift does not replace the on-call, but extends the scheduled activity. The doctors on the second shift can start the program at 14:00, which means more interventions and shorter waiting times. Every extra hour in the operating room means an extra intervention for a patient”Alexandru Rogobete sent.
The same principle would be applied in outpatient clinics and in day hospitalization, where the activity could also be organized in two shifts, depending on the needs and the availability of the medical staff.
“The organizational decision belongs to the head doctor of the department, with the approval of the medical management, so that the program is correlated with the degree of occupancy and the real need for services”announced the minister.
Four types of guards
The order also brings news regarding the organization of guards in hospitals. In addition to the existing types — emergency guard, monitoring guard and home guard — a new category is introduced: intervention guard. It is intended for specialties that require rapid and complex interventions, such as interventional cardiology, interventional neurology or interventional radiology.
“With the approval of this order, hospitals will be able to organize their guards in a 12-, 18- or 24-hour regime, depending on the specifics of the hospital, the department, the availability of human resources and addressability”announced Alexandru Rogobete.
The proposed legislative changes are in decisional transparency.
