The 8th edition of the International Forum for Health Tourism, a traditional scientific and professional landmark of the health tourism program, launched six years ago by the “Amfiteatru” Foundation together with the Romanian College of Physicians, the Romanian Medical Tourism Association and the Romanian Organisation Spa Owners, took place this year at Râmnicu Vâlcea.
The 8th edition has generated debates and solutions, the buildups and trends of this field have been analyzed and the latest scientific innovations and best practices in the country and abroad have been presented.

In the past two years, the event relied on the professional experience of the Medical Cluster “Health Romania”, whose establishment was itself a result of the programme. We have adopted unreservedly the clustering phenomenon motto: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”. Not long after the assessment made by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA), our cluster was awarded the “Bronze” label for Cluster Management Excellence.
This process was conducted according to the European Initiative for Excellence Cluster (ECEI) launched in 2009 by the European Union through the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme.

Obtaining the “Bronze” label for Cluster Management Excellence attests the cluster’s orientation towards achieving excellence in the health field and medical sciences, at a European level.
ESCA evaluation focused on the management analysis of the Medical Cluster “Health Romania”, provided by the “Amfiteatru” Foundation on six criteria: structure, management and coordination, strategy, funding, achievements, vision and services.

This recognition is an important step in the evolution of Medical Cluster “Health Romania” and its strengthening on the domestic and international market.

With concrete steps towards internationalization we mention that we are, together with the Montenegro Health Tourism Cluster, founders of the Balkan Cluster for Health Tourism.

The 8th edition was organized in collaboration with the National Authority for Quality Management, with the support of Balneomedcenter Hospital and the hospitable Grand Hotel Sofianu, and with the involvement of Romanian Tourism Journalists’ Association, Oltenia subsidiary.

There were present, with important interventions:
-dr. Loreta Diana Peacock – State Councilor, Public Health Department of the Presidential Administration
-Mrs. Silvia Corina Pop – State Secretary at Ministry of Health
-Mr Vasile Cepoi – President of the National Authority for Quality Management in Health
 
Together with members of the Medical Cluster “’Health Romania”, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Relations with Business Environment, the National Authority for Tourism, presidents of county councils and mayors, academics and researchers, heads of professional employers’ organizations of profile (OPTBR, ARTM, Association of Balneology) doctors, managers and evaluators from the health care system, tourism specialists from Romania and abroad.
 
The forum agenda was focused on problems specifically designed to meet the development needs of the area. Moderators and speakers, notable personalities, have provided exceptional content and the theme was grouped on the main axes of competitiveness and international trends of health tourism from the perspective of exploiting Romania’s anthropogenic and natural potential. All these make this edition a veritable think tank of the domain.