Alexandru Rafila, the Minister of Health, believes that the elimination of the tax on medical leaves must “judge with caution“, noting that the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance House will do an analysis to reach the correct decision.
Alexandru Rafila, Minister of Health – Photo gov.ro
“I think a balanced approach is needed. Here I would mention something that I think is very important: in the attributions of the National Health Insurance House it is very clearly stipulated that they have the duty to control the way in which these leaves are issued and it does not refer to the control of patients, but to the large prescribers of medical leaves and it is likely that a better organization and an intensification of controls will balance the situation regarding the number of medical leaves. Romania's fiscal policy is not made by the Ministry of Health”, answered Rafila quoted by Agerpres, when he was asked what is happening with the taxation of medical leaves and whether this measure will be eliminated for certain categories.
When asked for an opinion on whether to remove this tax completely or only for pregnant women and people with chronic conditions, Rafila stated: “It must be judged with caution, because, of course, there are chronic diseases that have a very high impact, including oncological diseases, pregnant women we no longer discuss that it is such a situation, we also have medical-surgical emergencies, if someone has an accident , e.g“.
The Minister of Health emphasizes the need for an analysis carried out by CNAS and the Ministry of Health to lead to the correct choice in order to eliminate the tax on illness.
“But we need an evaluation that must be done with the payer, the payer is the National Health Insurance House. The house budget is burdened by a debt that has increased, because, from less than 1 billion lei, we ended up paying 6 billion lei for medical leave. I cannot say that it is much or more or less, but an analysis must be made that can lead to the right decision. No statements can be made, only statements. We must have a plan that we can communicate to you after the three institutions, namely the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health and, of course, the National Health Insurance House, have itRafila added.
