Statements by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the beginning of the Government meeting

Marcel Ciolacu: As promised, were unfreezing hiring for nearly 8,000 health and social assistance positions today! Thus, all important hospitals with a shortage of doctors and nurses can hire faster. This year, the Ministry of Health has a budget over 40 percent higher than in 2023, so, it's not about any financial issue.
We allocated about 6.6 billion lei with which we closed last year's healthcare system debts, ensuring also the current expenses for January, for medicines and medical services. However, each employment must be reflected, concretely, in better services for patients, more empathy, and responsibility. This also applies to family doctors. We have the necessary funds, but it is appropriate to pay better the doctors who work seriously! That is, the services provided should prevail over payment on patient lists, and remuneration for some names on a piece of paper!
We also have important projects in the field of Education. I understand that the procedure regarding the 500 lei worth of educational vouchers has been completed both at the Ministry of Investments and European Projects and the Ministry of Education. Thus, in no time at all, the cards can be picked up by parents and used to buy school supplies and clothing! In addition, today we approve the necessary framework for the continuation of the National Healthy Meal Program in schools this year as well. The hot meal proved essential in reducing school dropout in the areas where the program was implemented. Thats why our target is to increase, from 450 to 1000, the number of schools that give this food support to children!
Also today, we are moving forward with the state aid scheme for the development of domestic production in the construction materials industry, approving a key document, namely the Applicants Guide.
This program, together with the one in the agriculture and food industry, Investalim, and support schemes for SMEs represent the foundation to secure domestic production in strategic areas. Through this approach, in 2023 we managed to reduce the trade balance deficit by 5.5 billion euros. And we will continue with more courage this year! It will be the year when we make Buy Romanian a pillar of our economic development.
Today we also approve the financing contract with the European Investment Bank, worth 200 million lei, for a new section of the A3 highway, 42 kilometers long. Both in terms of value, diversity, and complexity, we have the highest funding for national infrastructure in all of Romanias modern history! It is European money, allocations from the budget, and funds from the big institutional financiers that will lead, in 2024, to the largest number of kilometers of highways and express roads completed in one year. Thank you!

Source: Gov