The 12th edition of the International Health Tourism Forum (IHTF) takes place at a key moment for Romania. As Ioan Borșan, President of the Amfiteatru Foundation, underlined in his opening remarks, Romania is no longer just a destination with potential, but a country that is beginning to demonstrate the capacity to deliver competitive services, inspire confidence, and connect naturally to the international dynamics of health tourism.
IHTF 2025 – Identity, coherence, and new tools for health tourism in Romania
The Amfiteatru Foundation, the initiator of IHTF more than a decade ago, built this forum not just as an event, but as a working and collaboration platform where health is viewed as a pillar of sustainable economic and community development. This year’s edition confirms this direction: IHTF is becoming the space where visions are aligned, concrete tools are launched, and real partnerships are coagulated.
A forum that clarifies the strategic directions of the sector
The IHTF 2025 edition, held at ROMEXPO, showed that Romania’s health tourism sector is entering a stage of maturation and professionalization. The presentation delivered by Alexandru Constantin explained the legislative framework for attracting cross-border patients, as well as the necessary conditions for Romanian medical services to become a viable and competitive option for European citizens.
“Balneo & Rehab & Geriatrics – MADE IN ROMANIA”: The necessary identity
One of the central moments of the forum was the launch of the national brand “Balneo & Rehab & Geriatrics – MADE IN ROMANIA,” presented by Dr. Traian-Virgiliu Surdu. This is an integrative concept that unites spa tradition, rehabilitation expertise, geriatrics, and innovation.
The brand corrects the main vulnerability of the field: fragmentation. The message of the presentation was clear: Romania has exceptional resources, but a dispersed image. The new brand provides coherence, visibility, and a common language for the entire sector.
Romania Health Destination – Trusted Partner
Another major launch of the IHTF 2025 edition is the platform “Romania Health Destination – Trusted Partner,” built to provide structure and credibility to the international presentation of medical and spa services.
The platform ensures the selection of accredited providers, the validation of programs, direct access for patients, and a professional digital framework. It is the first tool that brings together spa centers, private clinics, and public hospitals in a coherent manner.
IHTF 2025 Selection – Competitive Excellence
The forum also hosted the moment dedicated to recognizing performance: the IHTF 2025 Selection – Competitive Excellence, with the participation of organizations representative of the medical and spa ecosystem.
A sector in transformation
Romania is beginning to function unitarily in health tourism. IHTF 2025 marks the transition from fragmented communication to a common identity, from isolated initiatives to integrated tools, and from potential to real construction.
Core ideas of the IHTF 2025 edition
- Romania has a valuable medical and spa heritage.
- The “Balneo & Rehab & Geriatrics – Made in Romania” identity brings strategic coherence.
- The Trusted Partner platform offers international visibility and credibility.
- The sector is becoming more connected and results-oriented.
- IHTF is the space where visions are aligned and applied solutions are built.
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Conclusion
IHTF 2025 confirms that Romania is entering a stage of professionalization and international visibility in health tourism. The tools launched in this edition create the basis for long-term development, and IHTF 12 marks the beginning of a new chapter.
IHTF Presentations – IHTF 2025 Selection – Competitive Excellence
Turism Covasna SA Turism Covasna SA is one of the finest examples of transforming spa tradition into a contemporary health tourism product, focusing on prevention, rehabilitation, and medical wellness. Under the leadership of Narcisa Diaconu, the company has successfully positioned local natural resources—carbonated mineral waters, natural mofettas, and heavily ionized air—into an integrated therapeutic offer tailored to the needs of the modern patient concerned with cardiovascular health, metabolic recovery, and an active lifestyle. The recent rebranding and modernization of its portfolio units (Căprioara SPA & Wellness Resort, Covasna, and Hotel Cerbul) signal a clear direction toward professionalization and international market orientation by introducing standardized programs, qualified medical and support staff, and credible medical partnerships. Thus, Turism Covasna SA stands out as a benchmark in applied balneology and a model for the transition of traditional resorts into high value-added health tourism.
Constantin Poiană – “Prof. Dr. Eduard Apetrei” Hospital, Buhuși The transformation of the Buhuși Hospital represents a rare example of systemic healthcare reconstruction with a direct impact on patient mobility and access to quality services in small communities. Phased modernization, attracting physicians, and diversifying medical specialties have laid the groundwork for developing integrated services with medical-tourism potential, such as recovery, rehabilitation, advanced diagnostics, and complex treatments. In line with IHTF principles, the hospital serves as a case study on how public medical infrastructure can contribute to health tourism—not by attracting traditional tourists, but through:
- increasing public trust in local services;
- reducing healthcare migration;
- building a prestigious regional ecosystem.
The institution’s evolution under Constantin Poiană’s leadership confirms that investing in quality and human resources generates measurable performance, proving that health tourism can act as a pillar of local development with a significant contribution to community well-being.
Molnár Ákos – Tușnad SA Tușnad SA plays a central role in the revitalization of Băile Tușnad, one of Europe’s most valuable spa destinations. The modernization of the Tușnad Hotel and the relaunch of its treatment base position the resort firmly within the cardiology-metabolism-stress-longevity segment, where local natural resources—carbonated mineral waters, mofettas, and ionized air—are truly unique. The presence of the only therapeutically applied carbonated mineral water pool gives the resort a major competitive advantage across Central Europe. The O3zone Hotel complements this infrastructure with modern wellness services, rejuvenation, and recovery programs, transforming the entire complex into an emerging hub for health tourism. Molnár Ákos’s vision positions Tușnad SA as a leader of a development model that combines:
- balneological expertise;
- modern medicine benchmarks;
- a premium tourism experience.
Ioana Niță – Sanconfind The Sanconfind Medical Center is one of the most relevant examples of how multidisciplinary medicine and natural spa resources can be organically integrated. Featuring hyperconcentrated salt water (321 g/l), Techirghiol mud, and over 20 medical specialties, the center offers a comprehensive model of the IHTF concept—combining medical care, balneotherapy, rehabilitation, and wellness. Sanconfind is unique even on a European scale for its medical multidisciplinarity paired with natural resources.
Sanconfind’s pillars of competitiveness:
- hyperconcentrated salt water (321 g/l);
- mud brought directly from Techirghiol under controlled conditions;
- over 20 medical specialties;
- surgery, medical imaging, laboratory, rehabilitation, and inpatient care all under one roof.
With over 850,000 patients served in 10 years, the center has become a benchmark for inbound medical tourism, attracting both Romanian and foreign patients through high standards, therapeutic coherence, and clinical professionalism. Sanconfind reaffirms a key strategic direction: the seamless integration of medical, spa, and preventive services into a complete and predictable ecosystem.
Melu Silviu – CorinaDent CorinaDent stands as a benchmark model in dental tourism, one of the most dynamic segments of health tourism. The clinic features an in-house dental technology laboratory, a complete imaging department, and treatment rooms equipped for implantology, orthodontics, endodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. Through integrated services and tailored packages (including transport, accommodation, and streamlined scheduling), CorinaDent offers patients a predictable and efficient experience. CorinaDent has developed a unique concept: “All-inclusive dental treatments”, offering foreign patients a comprehensive 5-year dental plan with full-mouth restoration and accommodation included for the duration of the treatment.
Kerem Caliskan – INFODIF (Turkey) INFODIF contributes to the modernization of the medical sector through advanced technological solutions for security and digitalization. The I-BEX VMS platform integrates video monitoring, access control, panic buttons, AI-powered acoustic and video analysis, and command centers, providing medical institutions with a comprehensive tool to ensure patient safety and continuous operations. Within the framework of the IHTF, INFODIF illustrates the strategic direction of developing the smart health center concept.