Wellbeing Barometer - Health: Romania surpasses Hungary, ranks below Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria

Romania scores 6.53 in the analysis dedicated to health from the Wellbeing Barometer, placing the country above Hungary (6.46), but below all other states in the comparison group: the Czech Republic (7.60), Slovakia (7.18), Poland (7.07) and Bulgaria (6.98), according to a release of the National Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies of Romania (UNSAR).The Alliance for Wellbeing (ABS) published on Tuesday the health analysis of the Wellbeing Barometer. The report was carried out by the MIR Research and represents one of UNSAR's contributions to the ABS.Thus, the analysis outlines one of the most sensitive components of wellbeing in Romania and complements the results previously presented in the general release of the Barometer. Health is assessed through components regarding Prevention, Health Risk Factors and Mental Health.In the Prevention category, Romania records 519 avoidable deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest level in the region, indicating gaps in access to medical screening services and in preventive health monitoring.Regarding the Risk Factors, Romania remains among the highest in the region for alcohol consumption, smoking and physical inactivity. Moreover, 59.7% of Romanians are overweight - a level that severely affects the quality of life and places extra pressure on the healthcare system. Among children, the situation is equally concerning: 28% are overweight, indicating major risks for the future health of the next generation.In the Mental Health category, Romania records a high level of the bullying phenomenon: 1 in 4 pupils is a victim, a percentage above the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average. The data show higher levels than those reported in Poland (18% for both girls and boys) or Hungary (21% of girls and 16% of boys), highlighting pronounced emotional vulnerability, particularly among young people.The organisation mentioned that, in this context, it is important to support access to quality healthcare services, which can be achieved including through the development of voluntary health insurance. These also help reduce pressure on the public system.Moreover, the data from the Wellbeing Barometer confirm the need for integrated solutions, where prevention, health education and financial protection mechanisms work together to improve quality of life and reduce current vulnerabilities.The UNSAR brings to mind that the Wellbeing Barometer provides, for the first time, an integrated view of the population's wellbeing, built on international methodologies and complemented with indicators specific to the Romanian context. Based on these results, which represent a solid starting point, the Alliance for Wellbeing will put forward concrete public policy proposals focused on resilience, prevention and improving the quality of life.The ABS is a collaborative platform which gathers companies, organisations, public institutions and experts to promote preventive measures and enhance the quality of life in Romania. Its aim is to make Romania a model of good practice in terms of healthcare, education and social pillar, aligned with the OECD standards, with the goal of creating a sustainable and prosperous society. (Photo:https://unsar.ro/)