Draft law on mandatory health insurance funds for 2026 passed in first reading: more funds for medical services and compensated medicines

In 2026, larger financial resources will be allocated for medical assistance and medicine compensation. The Parliament approved the draft Law on Mandatory Health Insurance Funds (FAOAM) in the first reading.

According to the project developed by the Ministry of Health, revenues for 2026 are estimated at 18.83 billion lei, 8.3% more than those approved for the current year. Expenses are set at 19.217 billion lei, representing an increase of 10.5% compared to 2025.

Moreover, the fixed sum of the mandatory health insurance premium will remain unchanged at 12,636 lei, and the premium in the form of a percentage contribution from salary and other compensations will be maintained at a level of 9%.

The basic fund, intended to pay for medical and pharmaceutical services, is estimated at 18.66 billion lei. Of this amount, 3.9 billion lei will be allocated to primary medical assistance. Allocations for services provided by medical-sanitary institutions based on family medicine principles, as well as for community medical services, will increase by 14.1%.

For outpatient specialized medical assistance, including dental services, 1.74 billion lei are earmarked, and for pre-hospital emergency medical assistance – 2.01 billion lei. The largest part of the basic fund, amounting to 8.98 billion lei, will be directed towards hospital medical assistance, a sum 4.3% higher than that approved for 2025.

Expenses intended for compensated medicines and medical devices will increase by 19.3% compared to the current year, exceeding 1.43 billion lei. Of this amount, 95.22 million lei are intended for expanding the list of compensated medicines and medical devices so that more patients have access to treatment. Additionally, funds allocated for compensating medical devices will increase by 43.7% compared to 2025.

The fund for the development and modernization of public medical service providers is estimated at 340.2 million lei. Of this sum, 240.2 million lei will be directed to capital repair works in several national level medical institutions, including the Urgent Medicine Institute, the Cardiology Institute, the Mother and Child Institute, the Republican Clinical Hospital “Timofei Moșneaga,” and the Oncology Institute.

For 2026, FAOAM is forecast with a budget deficit of 385.2 million lei, which is to be covered from the financial means available at the beginning of the year.

The draft law will be subject to further examination by the Parliament in a second reading.