Telemedicine is changing how people get medical help. It’s part of a wider digital shift across Europe. Romania has gone further than some might expect. Despite difficulties, it has built a legal and technical base for telemedical services. For Ukraine, this path may be worth studying – especially while its own system keeps evolving toward EU standards.
What telemedicine looks like in Romania
At first, Romania only tested telemedicine through small pilot projects. Now it’s part of the national system. The Ministry of Health made it official in 2019 by setting rules for remote medical care.
Then came the pandemic. It pushed hospitals to the limit and forced faster change. Suddenly, distance medicine wasn’t simply a novelty. It was rather a necessity. For many people outside big cities, it even became the main way to reach a doctor.
Common types of services
Romania uses a few main forms of telemedicine:
- online consultations between patients and doctors (video or written messages)
- remote discussions between general practitioners and specialists
- digital monitoring of people with chronic diseases like heart problems, diabetes, hypertension
- mobile tools that record and send health data
This mix allows patients to stay in touch with the system, even when they can’t travel.
Rules and organization
Romanian law sets out what’s needed to make telemedicine work. It covers:
- technical standards for the platforms
- protection of patient data under GDPR
- payment and insurance options through the National Health Insurance House (CNAS)
- the doctor’s responsibility when working remotely
Since 2022, part of the cost for some telemedical services has been covered by the state. That made access a little easier for the average person.
Problems that remain
Progress hasn’t solved everything. Romania still faces a few stubborn issues:
- Internet quality in rural areas is poor.
- Some doctors and patients lack digital skills.
- Data systems don’t always “talk” to each other.
- Funding isn’t stable.
- Technical standards differ from one provider to another.
It may sound like bureaucracy (and in part it is) but these are the details that make or break a system.
Projects that worked
There are examples that show it can work:
- ProMED connects village doctors with city specialists.
- CardioNet monitors patients with heart conditions through wearable devices.
- eHealth Romania helps to digitize medical records and give patients access online
- Dokteronline, Treated and some affiliate websites like Retetaromana, their model of work includes connection of patients with doctors who can issue prescriptions.
Alongside this, doctors took part in short training courses to get used to the new digital tools.
What comes next
The Romanian health strategy until 2030 mentions a few clear steps:
- include telemedicine in national insurance plans
- expand into fields like telepsychiatry and telerehabilitation
- connect systems with other EU countries
- improve cybersecurity for patient data
- make software standards more unified
It sounds ambitious. But some of these things are already in motion.
Why this matters for Ukraine
Ukraine can learn from this story. Not everything fits perfectly, but some ideas are worth adapting. For example:
- build a clear legal base for telemedicine and data protection
- combine public and private funding (a hybrid model)
- treat telemedicine as part of the system, not as an extra option
- invest in digital training for medical workers
- start with pilot programs in remote or frontline areas
These steps don’t solve all problems, but they might make access to care more equal.
Conclusion
Romania’s progress over the past few years shows that telemedicine isn’t just about technology. It’s also about coordination, education, and trust.
For Ukraine, still transforming its healthcare in difficult conditions, Romania’s path could serve as a kind of map. The experience of this country is not perfect, but useful. Telemedicine may not fix everything. Yet it’s one of the few tools that can bring care closer to those who need it most.