Catalin Popa, executive manager of private medical services operator Euroclinic Hospital & Medical Centers, says the company will continue to expand via two clinics this year, will hire 35-40 people and be more aggressive on the corporate market.

Popa can consider himself a "happy" manager during these times considering that the business he runs, which includes a hospital and three clinics ended 2009 with a 35% rise (in RON) to 7.7 million euros, a little over the initially set target.

"We will continue our expansion via clinics, with a first one to open in the first half of the year, and a second in the second half. Both will be in Bucharest and will require around one million euros in cumulated funds. For the two clinics we will hire around 35-40 people," Popa told ZF in an interview.

This year's projects come in addition to last year's investments, and will bring the company's turnover to around 10 million euros this year, over 80% of which will be generated by the hospital and the rest by the clinics. The exchange rate used in the calculation of the budget was 4.25 RON per euro.

"2009 is the first year with an operating income. In 2010 new clinics will alter our plans for a while, but it will be an expected loss in the first year in business," Popa said.

This year the hospital will continue to make an operating profit, and record an over 20% margin. However, the company, which includes the hospital, as well as the clinics, will not record a net profit.

"There have been wage increases since the beginning of the summer, but there have also been significant rises in employee numbers. We started the year with around 240 employees, and now we are at 316. We hired both medical staff and administrative staff," Popa added.

In 2009 the head of Euroclinic revised the budget only once, in March - April, with the head of the company sa