RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: Under communism, Romania's health care system experienced overcrowded facilities and the lack of equipment and medicine. But all that is changing now. The World Bank is lending the country $40 million to improve its public health care services. Romanian television takes a look at how the country's largest hospital is already benefit living from the loan.</s>NICOLAI MELINESCU, ROMANIAN TV (voice-over): The Funteng (ph) hospital, which is also most advanced in the cure of several diseases and afflictions, received part of the funds which was put into modern equipment for intensive care, radiology and operation rooms. The school (ph) here is the oldest in Romania to run graduate and refresher training programs for young doctors. It can also treat uncommon and rare diseases. The professional performance and equipment has won the hospital the certificate for excellence.</s>MIHAI VOICULESCU, PROFESSOR (through translator): This standard was generated by the unique treatment that our patients can benefit from, by the training programs for recent university graduates and with the help of research facilities of European standards.</s>MELINESCU: Quite recently, the Funteng hospital was provided with advanced technology for bone marrow transplant. Kidney transplants are almost common, and liver transplants are performed experimentally for the time being. The experience gathered by the doctors and the nurses</s>ION GEROTA, PROFESSOR (through translator): There are a number of outstanding personalities in the world of medicine in the West who are Romanians by birth. And they all wish to help their country of origin to pick up traditional links which existed before the Second World War between the Romanian School of Medicine and other European schools.</s>MELINESCU: The assistance of foreign, more experienced foundations and international bodies is more than welcome under the economic strains of this job. The health care financial resources of the year 2000 represent 14.5 percent of the national budget, 1 percent less than last year. The implementation of the reform strategy for the health national system was worked out late last year, and international assistance is essential for its success. For the CNN WORLD REPORT, I am Nicolai Melinescu for the Romanian Television.
Romanian Hospital Receives Funds for Upgrade