Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. Statements by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at the...

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

January 11, 2024

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

The text of this article has been partially taken from the publication:
Read in full - click here
Romanian film “Catane” to have first screenings in the country after international festival run

“Catane,” a dark comedy inspired by real events and directed by Ioana Mischie, is set to have its first special screenings in Romania after a successful festival circuit.  The film had its world premiere at the IFFI Goa festival in India and was nominated this year at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Best […]

Water reserves in Romania decreasing at alarming rates, report shows

Romania is among the European countries where water reserves are decreasing at an alarming rate, according to an analysis carried out by researchers from University College London in collaboration with The Guardian and Watershed Investigations.  Scientists analyzed data from the period 2002–2024 provided by satellites that monitor changes in the Earth's...

British teenager goes missing while hiking in Romania

George Smyth, 18, went missing on a hike near Romania’s famous Bran Castle more than a week ago. On November 23, the British citizen started to suffer from hypothermia and exhaustion and called the emergency services.  Trying to locate him, mountain rescue services conducted searches over the next few days but were only able to […]

Water crisis in Romania's Prahova, Dâmbovița counties impacts over 100,000 people

Over 107,000 people in Prahova and Dâmbovița counties, in southern Romania, have been without drinking water since Friday, November 28, due to problems at the Paltinu Dam. According to local authorities, the problems are set to persist until next week. The dam registered a drop in water levels, leading to problems in the water distribution system. […]

Reduced noise and lights planned for inclusive ‘Silent Day’ at Bucharest Christmas Market

A special ‘Silent Day’ event will be held at the Bucharest Christmas Market in Constituției Square on Wednesday, December 3, aimed at creating a quieter and more accessible environment for children with sensory disabilities. The initiative is designed to make the festive market manageable for children who may struggle with loud noise, bright lights, and […]

Eurostat: Romanians have the highest level of trust in others in the European Union

Romanians have the highest level of trust in others in the European Union, according to the most recent Eurostat data for the year 2024, ahead of the usual leader of the ranking, Finland.  The indicator ‘trust in others’ measures a person’s trust in people they do not know on a scale from 0 (‘I...