Arcadia: 13 years of investing into a healthier future

With important investments so far, Arcadia Hospitals and Medical Centres is the leader of healthcare services in northeastern Romania. Founded 13 years ago by Raluca and Dan Fiterman, the company was conceived from the very beginning as a multidisciplinary structure with integrated outpatient services, focusing on pediatrics, maternity and surgery. Knowing that the local private healthcare system is soon to reach maturity, the two entrepreneurs are planning solid investments that will provide complex solutions for Arcadia patients.

By Anda Sebesi

The story of Arcadia Hospitals and Medical Centres began back in 2008, when Dan and Raluca Fiterman entered the healthcare services scene by opening the first Arcadia medical unit in Iasi – a centre specialising in high-performance medical imaging services. Back then, the imaging centre’s portfolio focused on explorative medical services through magnetic resonance (MRI), computer tomography (CT), mamography, and ultrasound. “We wanted to develop a multidisciplinary structure with integrated outpatient services, focusing on pediatrics, maternity, and surgery,” says Dan Fiterman, the general manager of Arcadia Hospitals and Medical Centres.

Now the largest healthcare network in northeastern Romania, Arcadia was founded 13 years ago with the aim of providing support for patients, its founders say. “From the very beginning, our mission was to develop a medical system that would help the community, so we constantly invest in people and innovative technology to meet our patients’ needs,” says Raluca Fiterman, CEO, Arcadia Hospitals and Medical Centres.

According to Dan Fiterman, they’ve always focused on knowing and understanding the behaviour and needs of patients, as well as on analysing the structure and functioning of the private medical services market, being aware of the real demand for such services, and exploring market niches. With such clear positioning the two entrepreneurs quickly decided that the expansion of their business was the best option for them and for the local community. One year later, in 2009, they started the development of the future headquarters of the multidisciplinary hospital and the maternity hospital in a building with seven levels and a total area of over 11,000 sqm. In addition, a new hospital unit for interventional cardiology was developed in the same year. “We also reached an important milestone by implementing the quality management system,” says Dan Fiterman.

NOVEMBER 2010 – the first arthroplasties (prostheses) in the Arcadia Orthopedics-Traumatology Department - the first time such medical procedures were carried out in a private hospital in Moldova.

APRIL 2017 – for the first time in the region, 6 types of bariatric and metabolic surgeries are performed in Arcadia through a single incision - SILS.

AUGUST 2017 – the first cystoscopic exploration of a 3-month-old baby, the first coblation tonsillectomy, a modern method of surgical treatment in the ENT field and a premiere for Arcadia. In the same period, the network also marked a surgical milestone by performing the first pediatric laparoscopic splenectomy.

APRIL 2018 – the first IFD (Ileal Food Diversion) medical procedure against obesity in the region developed at the Arcadia Hospital. Another key event during this month was a national premiere in the Orthopedic Surgery department at Arcadia Multidisciplinary Hospital. An experienced team, led by the well-known German professor with Romanian origins Wilhelm Friedl, performed a complex surgery – the revision of a knee tumor prosthesis and reprosthesis with a modular tumor prosthesis "Rotating Hinge'' Mutars / Implantcast type, used for the first time in Romania.

MAY 2018 – the first post-traumatic splenic rupture operated on by using the laparoscopic method in the region.

SEPTEMBER 2018 – gastric mini-bypass performed by the Arcadia medical team for weight loss purposes.

2020 – a regional premiere for the Arcadia Medical Imaging Centres, using two 3 TESLA MRI machines. In March, Arcadia marked another first for Romania, in the obesity surgery area: the Gastric Sleeve with Transit Loop Bi-Partition procedure.

2021 - another medical premiere for the Arcadia Hospital (Interventional Radiology) – the embolisation of a splenic aneurysm.

However, 2010 marked the beginning of more complex activity as Arcadia opened its headquarters in Iasi and started to operate as a medical network with clinics and hospital services for both adults and children. At that time, Arcadia owned a multidisciplinary clinic, an imaging centre a multidisciplinary hospital, and an interventional cardiology hospital, as well as a mobile medical service unit. “With this structure, Arcadia was launched in June 2010 as the largest private provider of medical services in Moldova, featuring the first hospitals with this kind of infrastructure in the northeastern region,” says Raluca Fiterman.

In response to the growing demand for outpatient services, in January 2013, the Fiterman family launched the Arcadia Sărărie Medical Centre, the second clinic to offer medical services in more than 20 specialties for both adults and children, in a building with 4 levels and a total area of about 1,200 sqm. Three months later, in April, they opened the Palliative Department.

Since 2017, Arcadia has seen intensive expansion at all levels: the inauguration of Arcadia Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery Centre (March 2017), the opening of a polyclinic with medical specialties for children and adults – Moara de Foc – with high-end technical equipment and a top medical team (June 2017), and the opening of the Arcadia Bucium Medical Centre (August 2017). These were followed by the inauguration of the Breast Health Centre (June 2018 – its innovative equipment includes the latest mammography tools with tomosynthesis and an ultrasonograph dedicated to dense breast tissue), the Arcadia Sf. Lazăr Medical Recovery Centre, which features technology that is unique for the region, the David System (September 2018) and the Nicolina Medical Centre (October 2018), the sixth Arcadia centre in Iasi.

Last but not least, the company launched its telemedicine service Arcadia Line in 2020, to respond to patient needs during the pandemic, as well as the Women's Health Centre, which offers a complete circuit of investigations and medical consultations.

MORE TO COME

Currently, the Arcadia Healthcare Network has a complex infrastructure comprising a multidisciplinary hospital, an interventional cardiology hospital, three medical imaging centres, a maternity hospital and six other medical centres. “Arcadia has a professional medical team and premium equipment, two of the reasons why over a million patients have chosen this health network from the opening of the first medical imaging centre,” says Raluca Fiterman. Since 2008, the two entreprenereus have sustained significant financial endeavours, while the investment needed to finalise their ongoing projects will exceed EUR 20 million this year. “In the immediate future, we plan to open the Arcadia Medical Recovery Hospital which will include a robotic recovery base and revolutionary technology that brings major benefits for patients. The hospital will have 140 beds and give patients access to state-of-the-art technology and medical equipment,” Dan Fiterman adds. The company is also carrying out an evaluation and analysis process to integrate an innovative concept for an area dedicated to oncology, radiotherapy and radiosurgery.

As the medical services market is constantly evolving, with the private segment being at the forefront, the proper basis for market development is the quality of services, the adoption and implementation of innovative technologies, lifelong learning and a constant transfer of expertise. “We do believe that system maturity is the next step. Coherent investments are needed to provide patients with complex solutions,” says Dan Fiterman.

As for what differentiates Arcadia from other local medical service providers, Raluca Fiterman says that from the very beginning, the two entrepreneurs have believed in multidisciplinarity and the need for an integrated system of services: from prevention to diag-

nosis, treatment, and recovery. “We personalise medical solutions at the highest quality standards for our patients, and we are constantly developing new solutions. We set a standard and innovate in order to properly take care of our patients and the community. The network was developed under the principle of helping patients, and this is why Arcadia continues to be the healthcare leader in northeastern Romania,” says Raluca Fiterman.

In the future, the company plans to continue investing based on solid data and analysis and to develop new services dedicated to patients in the northeastern region and beyond. The founders will continue to develop Arcadia projects, such as the new Medical Recovery Hospital, which is due to open this year. The hospital’s treatment base will be equipped with the latest available technology.

“Arcadia is a system based on clear values, a platform that interconnects medical excellence, technology and people. Therefore, we treat patients with empathy and we give them the trust and support they need. We focus on the real time needs of our team, our patients and the community,” Raluca Fiterman concludes.

The modern pharmaceutical industry dates back to the mid-1800s, when pharmacies started to expand their plant-derived medicine distribution services into the development of the first chemicals. At the beginning of the 20th century, the pharma industry developed globally, and Romania took the first steps in research through small enterprises.

In order to keep up with the fast growth in the pharmaceutical industry, these small enterprises merged and Biofarm was established in 1921. This merger soon paid off, with Biofarm products having a major contribution to increasing the quality of life of Romanian patients in the ‘20s. Such products include Carmol, launched in 1928, which makes it the oldest and one of the best-know products of the company.

INNOVATION, THE COMPANY’S GROWTH DRIVER

More than 90 years have passed since the launch of Carmol and 100 years of continued activity for the company having its headquarters on Logofătul Tăutu Street. 100 years during which Biofarm’s mission to do good has materialized in each of its undertakings. 100 years during which care and responsibility towards the clients have always come to the forefront. 100 years of constant innovations. 100 years during which Biofarm has launched hundreds of products in over 60 therapeutic areas, many of which are still leading their categories. Triferment, Anghirol, Colebil or Cavit are only some of the examples which stand proof of the undisputed outstanding quality of the products and of the fact that passion to identify the best treatment solutions has always been one of the core values of the entire research and development team at Biofarm.

Constant innovation and portfolio diversity have always differentiated Biofarm from its competitors and have yielded significant results, which have fostered the company’s development over its 100 years of activity. The permanent updating of the core portfolio and the launch of new products in the fastest growing categories in the industry have always made Biofarm stand out on the highly competitive pharmaceutical market in Romania over the past 20 years.

The mix between long-standing brands and innovations in emerging categories place Biofarm among the top companies in Consumer Healthcare and make it the undisputed leader of the following therapeutic areas: digestion, bile disorders, nasal decongestants, topical antirheumatics, venous insufficiency, anxiolytics, and hypnotics. The recent additions to Biofarm’s portfolio hold important positions in their respective market segments, such as laxatives, hepatic medicines, bloating and antiflatulence, vitamins for kids or sore throat.

CONSTANT INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE

The company’s story is not only about a wide product portfolio, but also about responsibility towards whole generations of consumers, which has determined Biofarm to always look towards the future before taking any action and making any business decision.

The centennial anniversary showcases the most important investment in the local pharma industry over the past 30 years – a manufacturing facility built from scratch, with modern installations and machinery, led by a team of specialists that are developing all the time.

Dedicated to their mission to do good through continuous improvement, the Biofarm team works relentlessly to maintain performance and innovation at the highest level. They put their know-how and expertise to the service of good every day, in the new labs provided with state-of-the-art equipment.

With an area of more than 7,000 square meters and an annual production flow of over 30 million commercial units in the form of tablets and capsules and over 10 million liquid products, the new Biofarm plant significantly increases production and will facilitate expansion on new markets.

The genuine desire to do good is the driving force which has kept the Biofarm business alive for 100 years and represents the starting point for the next era of innovation and performance in the pharmaceutical industry.