Interview with Roman BOCA, founder of Dorna Medical, in the context of FERM 2025: “The healthcare sector is essential and must not be sacrificed in the name of austerity”

The Regional Economic Forum Moldova (FERM) 2025, held from July 9–13 in Vatra Dornei, Roman Boca – founder of Dorna Medical – drew attention to the critical challenges facing the private medical sector in Romania in the current economic context.

In an honest and practical dialogue, he highlighted the negative impact of austerity measures and fiscal policies on healthcare providers, at a time when society needs, more than ever, rapid and efficient access to quality care.

The Forum – a space for real dialogue in a time of economic turning point

At the beginning of his intervention, Roman Boca wished to thank the FERM organizers for the initiative to bring together professionals from various economic fields, in a setting designed to facilitate dialogue, collaboration, and the search for common solutions.

“They worked hard to gather people from different specialties, from different economic activities, to bring them to Vatra Dornei and to share viewpoints, especially now, at a moment when the Romanian economy… needs such discussion platforms.”

According to the founder of Dorna Medical, the current economic climate – marked by austerity measures – requires special attention from authorities, with an emphasis on protecting essential sectors such as healthcare.

Major fiscal issues for healthcare service providers

One of the most pressing issues raised by Roman Boca concerns the VAT regime applied in the medical sector. Unlike other economic actors, private medical clinics cannot deduct VAT for purchased products and services, despite operating with highly expensive equipment and materials, many of which are imported.

“We purchase many products from abroad – reagents, high-performance equipment – which include VAT, and that VAT cannot be deducted. This directly affects the functioning of the private medical system.”

Furthermore, the founder of Dorna Medical reiterated what other economic leaders present at the forum expressed during the opening sessions: raising VAT by two percentage points risks “gripping the engines of the economy”, including in sectors where operational costs are already high.

Rising energy costs, cost pressures, and lack of response from CNAS

In addition to the fiscal burden, Roman Boca highlighted the significant increase in electricity costs, particularly for advanced medical equipment such as MRI machines. A concrete example: if until recently the monthly operating cost of an MRI machine was around 10,000 lei, it has now risen to 15,000 lei.

“Electricity has increased by 50%. If operating an MRI for one month cost us 10,000 lei, now we will pay 15,000. We wonder where these costs will be reflected…”

In this context, he criticized the lack of reaction from the National Health Insurance House, which has not adjusted the prices for compensated medical services, even though the market and real costs have changed drastically.

A call to action: do not sacrifice health

At the conclusion of the dialogue, the founder of Dorna Medical made a firm appeal to central authorities to take seriously the strategic importance of the healthcare system – including the private sector – and not to impose policies that discourage investment or limit patient access to quality services.

“Governments must understand that the healthcare sector is extremely important as well.”

He also expressed hope that governmental measures would not irreversibly affect the system and that patients will still be able to access private medical services, which are vital in an overcrowded public system.

Conclusion

The conclusions of Roman Boca’s intervention at FERM 2025 highlight an essential truth: health cannot be treated as a mere budgetary component subject to cuts, but must be seen as a strategic pillar of economic and social development. Fiscal measures adopted without consulting sector stakeholders risk deeply destabilizing a system already operating under pressure, and the impact will be felt directly by patients through reduced access to essential services.

Through the voice of the founder of Dorna Medical, the private healthcare sector is asking not for privileges, but for fiscal fairness, predictability, and real dialogue with authorities. The Regional Economic Forum Moldova thus becomes not only a networking platform but a necessary space to signal vulnerabilities and formulate concrete solutions, where healthcare must occupy a central place on the decision-makers’ agenda.