The explosion in Botoșani brings back to the discussion the old problem – not resolved today – of the number of beds allocated to the burned victims in Romania, an almost non-existent number. And of the large hospital centers intended for these patients, which are being built at a snail's pace.
In Romania there is no functional center for the severely burned. Photo source: archive
It seems that we learned only one thing from the tragedy at Colectiv: to continue sending our patients to clinics abroad. Or, in the present case, to treat them in the wards of hospitals in the country. And when there are no places here or the condition of the sick is too serious, let's treat them like a ping pong ball in the care of the doctors in the Capital.
This fall marks 9 years since the tragedy in Colectiv, and since then and until now, the construction of no center for the treatment of major burns has been completed in Romania. In June 2023, work began on the construction of the center in Timișoara, which will be completed, the authorities hope, by the end of this year. Two months later, in August last year, the contract was signed for the medical unit in Bucharest within the Grigore Alexandrescu Children's Hospital, and in March of this year, work began on the center in Târgu Mureș. In conclusion, currently none of the three centers promised for so many years are working yet. Instead of these medical units, which today should have treated their patients according to European standards, over time only a few sections of the hospitals were renovated and rehabilitated. But it is not nearly enough. Because a tragedy like the one at Crevedia or an event like the one at Botoșani could happen anytime and anywhere in the country. And the victims could die for days. Not that it hasn't happened before…
First in Timisoara…
In Timișoara, the works on the site of the center for major burns, which is being built in the courtyard of the county hospital, continue at a brisk pace. Local authorities announced that the medical facility could be completed by the end of this year. From 2025 the future health hub could become functional. This, immediately after it will be equipped with medical equipment and furniture. “The Great Fire Center in Timișoara is the most advanced of the three we are building. I was also there at the construction site, the works are progressing rapidly and I would like the building to be finished at least by the end of this year and, from the middle of next year, to be functional, equipped, able to receive the children and adults who have of health problems”, recently declared the Minister of Health Alexandru Rafila. “Apart from direct investments from the Ministry of Health, about 2 billion lei represent the programs with international funding, the largest part of the PNRR”, he continued. The value of the investment, carried out by the Ministry of Health, is 66 million euros, and the duration of execution is 26 months.
…and then across the country
The major burns center in Bucharest, which will operate in the courtyard of the Grigore Alexandrescu children's hospital, took shape last year, in August. “The new building will include 2 operating theaters for severe burn patients, 10 beds for critical patients, 16 post-critical ICU beds and 10 beds for microsurgery and reconstructive surgery. A new specialized outpatient clinic will also operate within the center. The value of the investment is 56 million euros and is part of the Project carried out by the Ministry of Health with the World Bank. The duration of the investment objective is 26 months”the Ministry of Health conveyed in a press release.
Meanwhile, in April this year, at the Clinic for Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Microsurgery and Burns within the “Grigore Alexandrescu” Children's Emergency Clinical Hospital, the Single National Register of Burn Patients was established. The platform will include data such as the number of burns recorded in children and adults, the places where they are treated and their etiology. “In the Single National Register of Burned Patients, patients with serious burns will be registered, so that specialist doctors have access to everyone's file and history”, the doctors stated in a press conference. But, they draw attention, this register needs the approval of the Ministry of Health to be implemented.
Doctors from the “Grigore Alexandrescu” hospital also announced that they are working on a new skin bank that must be national or regional. “A tissue bank, which has skin in its composition, would be enough”the specialists also declared.
At the major burn center in Târgu Mureș, work only started in March this year. The hospital, which is located in the courtyard of the County Emergency Hospital, will have 25 operating rooms and an intensive care unit with 57 beds, according to European standards, the authorities promise. Everything is designed according to a French model. “The building has three floors and a technical floor, plus a connection point that connects the center with the hospital”stated the representative of the construction company.
At the moment, Romania has 34 beds for the elderly. Six are at the Floreasca Hospital, five each at the Arși Hospital in Bucharest, at the “St. Spiridon” from Iași and at the Timișoara County Hospital. Three others are at the “Bagdasar-Arseni” Clinical Hospital. 10 beds for children are available at the “Grigore Alexandrescu” Hospital in the capital. There is only one Burns Center in our country, at the Floreasca Hospital.
The condition of the patients burned in the Botoșani explosion
According to a press release from the Ministry of Health, three patients, victims of the explosion at Dedeman Botoșani, are hospitalized at the Emergency County Clinical Hospital “Saint Spiridon” in Iasi. “All three are hospitalized in intensive care. They are sedated. No one can be operated without anesthesia. They will then be woken up and extubated when the ATI doctor decides. The first patient brought from Botoşani, with the initially estimated burned body surface in Botoşani of 12% , upon admission, the specialist doctors found that the burned surface is double“, declared university professor Dr. Diana Cimpoeşu.
The two patients hospitalized at the Bucharest Clinical Emergency Hospital (Floreasca) are intubated, and their condition remains serious, given that their airways are affected. Also, the two patients hospitalized at the “Mavromati” Botoşani County Emergency Hospital (on request) are in good general condition, and the evolution is favorable.
