2023

Mapping down Romania’s healthcare system

Entry type: Single project

Country/area: Romania

Publishing organisation: Panorama

Organisation size: Small

Publication date: 2022-04-04

Language: Romanian

Authors: Edit Gyenge
Claudia Spridon

Biography:

Edit is an Information designer and entrepreneur based in Bucharest. She worked as a journalist and as a communication consultant for over 10 years. She is actively developing static and interactive data visualization projects for business clients, NGOs, and media outlets. Her work was shortlisted at the Information is Beautiful Awards.

Claudia, a recipient of a Fulbright scholarship in the USA, has 12 years of experience in print and online media, with a focus on health. She spent 7 years working at Adevărul newspaper. She wrote for Ziare.com. She has been recognized by several professional health organizations.

Project description:

An interactive data visualization piece of 173 maps and 63 charts that present the country’s health infrastructure (hospital, hospital beds, number of doctors) at a microregional level for each of the 41 counties. Also, for each county, there is a visual history of the evolution of the main causes of death in the past 30 years. Ischemic heart disease remains the main cause of death due to the lack of prophylaxis.

Impact reached:

Mapping out Romania’s healthcare system is crucial as it provides a clear understanding of the country’s healthcare services and their organization. This project had a significant impact on the public as it allowed them to visualize the current state of the health infrastructure and identify patterns in the health of Romanians, including the main causes of death. The project’s data visualization approach also made it a valuable tool for various practitioners and healthcare institutions to use for planning and decision-making.

Techniques/technologies used:

Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Tableau Public, Datawrapper, Affinity Designer, Flourish,studio

Context about the project:

A media institution in Romania created a sophisticated tool for displaying healthcare information, marking a milestone in the country’s democratic history. The tool continues to be used today.

What can other journalists learn from this project?

Using consistent data and visualization techniques is the most effective way to identify the key challenges facing the healthcare system.

Project links:

https://sanatate.panorama.ro/