Well-being Barometer : Romania scores 6.91 out of 10 with healthcare, education vulnerabilities

Romania has scored of 6.91 out of 10 in the first edition of the Well-Being Barometer, a report of the Alliance for Well-Being (ABS), based on data from official sources that integrates three essential dimensions - education, healthcare and social welfare.According to the report, produced by MIR Research, Romania in 2024 scored a total of 6.91, on a scale from zero to ten, which places the country above Bulgaria (6.69), but below the other analysed states in the region: the Czech Republic (7.84), Poland (7.81), Slovakia (7.25) and Hungary (7.01)."The barometer confirms that well-being is a joint effort - not just of the healthcare system, education or social policies, but of society as a whole. The results show both encouraging developments and areas where reforms need to be accelerated, especially in healthcare and education. The insurance industry can contribute, in a decisive way, to increasing the well-being of Romanians - from reducing financial vulnerabilities to stimulating the culture of prevention. Under this project, the Alliance takes on the role of an active player in the sustainable development of the Romanian society," says Alexandru Ciuncan, chairman and general manager of the National Union of Romania's Insurance and Reinsurance Companies (UNSAR), the organisation that initiated the ABS platform.The indicators used in the preparation of the specialised report were selected according to Romania's development priorities and the availability of data at national and European level, so that the analysis allows relevant comparisons with other countries in the region. The methodology is inspired by models used internationally, including in OECD practice.According to the barometer, in the area of healthcare, Romania faces the greatest challenges, especially in terms of prevention, risk factors and mental health. Thus, in this chapter, Romania is ahead of Hungary, but behind the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Bulgaria.At the same time, in terms of education, Romania continues to face difficulties in terms of level of attainment, access to education, digital skills and the increased rate of early school dropout, according to the conclusions of the report.In terms of social well-being, it is the best performing of the three dimensions, due to good results in terms of physical safety, community cohesion and life satisfaction. In this respect, Romania is positioned above Bulgaria and Hungary, but below Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia."The results of the barometer confirm the trends identified in the perception study previously launched by the Alliance for Well-Being, which is why we will accelerate certain specific actions, because well-being is not reduced to the level of income, but it entails education, autonomy, personal relationships, trust and a general state of emotional balance. Romanians find their well-being in the family. There is a growing appetite for prevention, information and independence in making decisions about one's own life, but systemic barriers - from access to services to their quality - remain significant," reads the report.The Alliance for Well-Being (ABS) is a collaborative platform that brings together companies, organisations, public bodies and experts to promote preventive measures and improve the quality of life in Romania.