Interview by Dan Cărbunaru – Director of Calea Europeană
Stefano Scarpetta, Director of the Department for Employment, Labor and Social Affairs (ELS) at the OECD, discussed in an interview for CaleaEuropeana.ro about the improvements that the Romanian authorities can make to have a resilient health system, where prevention becomes a priority, investments in the workforce are not lacking in order to combat the shortage of medical staff, but also to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship.
An improved and adapted healthcare system means investing in prevention and primary care
”I think in the health sector is another one in which improvement is absolutely needed. But also I think the health sector in all countries, including Romania, has to adapt. Because we are living longer. We are living in better health, but we have more people older with chronic conditions. And I think the health care system has to evolve in a way in which hospitals of course play a fundamental role, but also primary care. Because many individuals with chronic conditions can be helped through basically primary care and not only by hospital and specialized care. So I think we need to invest more on prevention.”
The shortage of medical professionals, a challenge that urgently needs to be addressed
”We need to again create a better link, if you like, between the patient themselves and the doctors at all levels. And we need doctors and nurses, because in many countries, including Romania, there is a scarcity of doctors and nurses. But for that we have also to improve the working condition for them.”
”The reason why some of them drop out from the profession, or the fact that young people may not invest, may not study in the medical field, is because they know that working condition might be very difficult. So I think we have to work on both sides. On the working condition, on the pay, on the adaptation of the skills, but also on diversifying the offer of health support, which of course has to focus on hospital, specialized care, but also on primary care.”
Stefano Scarpetta has been the Director of the Employment, Labour and Social Affairs (ELS) Directorate of the OECD since 2013. Stefano Scarpetta leads the work of the Organisation in a number of broad areas including Employment, Labour, Migration, Health, Skills, Gender and Tackling Inequalities and contributes to the implementation of the Secretary-General’s strategic orientations in these areas. Stefano represents the OECD in the G20 and G7 and many other high-level international fora on labour market, social, migration and health issues. Under his leadership, ELS provides continuous assistance and support to countries in the design, implementation and evaluation of polices drawing from evidence-based analyses of how policy affects different economic, labour and social outcomes. His advice has contributed to numerous policy reforms in OECD countries and beyond, and new policy thinking in areas ranging from inequalities, labour market inclusion and the future of work, social protection for all, the integration of migrants, the economics of public health and patient-centred health care.
