The programme for the evaluation of population's health, launched on July 1, for which the Health Ministry has earmarked 300 million euros, doubles the growth pace of labs processing test samples.
However, lab representatives say the impact will not be a strong one due to the low degree of population mobilisation.
"We don't believe in a turnover boom triggered by this programme, though this is the first impression. We expect our business to be bolstered by the national programme for the evaluation of population's health, but the increase will be gradual," said Virgil Ivan, general manager with Synevo Romania, the lab unit of Medicover group, expecting turnover to reach 11 million euros this year.
Population mobilisation will be difficult to achieve because prevention is still a new concept with Romanians. "We forecast 20% turnover growth in the second half of this year against the same period of last year," Ivan also said.
On the other hand, Laboratoarele Bioclinica of Timisoara, one of the main players in the domain, counts on 40% growth in the following period, double the initial estimates.
Cristian Gheorghiu, the majority shareholder in the company, specified turnover growth by 20-25% against 2006 had been initially budgeted. Thus, Bioclinica had projected turnover worth 10.2 million RON (3 million euros) early this year, from 8.2 million RON (2.4 million euros) in 2005. He insists precise estimates can only be made after several months after the programme starts, with reactions being tested meanwhile.
The opinion is shared by the representatives of Laboratoarele Unisyn, a new player on the market, created by a partnership between Germany's biggest lab network, Synlab, and Centrul Medical Unirea. Ilarie Baila, the general manager with the company, says the programme will drive the turnover up, "but not by more than 20% this year
