Running a healthcare business driven by innovation, leadership, and resilience, Mihai Marcu, the President and CEO of MedLife Group, has built a unique and successful business model for Romania’s medical sector.
by Anda Sebesi
MedLife’s success story spans three decades, tracing the journey of a company that started out as a family business and grew into a publicly listed market leader which today has over 12,000 employees and collaborators.
“MedLife as we know it wasn’t built overnight; it grew step by step. It is not only the largest private medical network in Romania—we also have an international presence and we aim to become a full-scale regional player—, but also the only healthcare provider in the country with a fully integrated system, covering everything from prevention to surgery and wellness,” Mihai Marcu notes.
Today, the MedLife “umbrella” encompasses more than 80 companies. As Mihai Marcu points out, the company was the first to introduce the hyperclinic concept and the first to offer a fully integrated solution for patients on-site. It also opened the first private hospital in the country, hired its own doctors as employees, introduced transparent pricing for patients, launched the day surgery model, and was the first healthcare company in Romania to successfully list on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
“More recently, we became the first private medical operator in Romania and Central and Eastern Europe to use drones for the transportation of laboratory samples and one of the few medical operators in Europe that routinely transports biological samples over medium and long distances,” he adds.
Several factors have been instrumental in MedLife’s growth, starting with a strong management team and its ability to implement carefully-planned strategies. Another key driver has been the company’s constant push to stay one step ahead, reflected in its long list of industry firsts.
“Our acquisition strategy has also been a winning one. The MedLife Group has a successful track record of both organic growth and expansion through acquisitions, all carefully planned by our own M&A team. We have always focused on consistency and sustainability. Combined with our commitment to developing a strong medical system and providing Romanians with a real alternative, these efforts have positioned us as a market leader. Today, we are not just the largest private healthcare provider in Romania but also the biggest platform for entrepreneurial collaboration, bringing together ideas and strategies for a healthier healthcare system and a better future,” says the CEO.
Recently, MedLife completed the acquisition of Routine Med in Tulcea, further expanding its national footprint in the southeast, where it already operates several collection points, a laboratory in Constanta, as well as three hyperclinics in Constanta, Galati, and Braila. This makes MedLife the largest provider of integrated diagnostic and treatment services in Romania.
“Right now, any patient in Romania can reach a MedLife facility within an hour’s drive. We are proud to be so close to those in need and to be the only private medical operator with major hospitals or clinics in every city with over 100,000 inhabitants. But that doesn’t mean we neglect smaller towns—on the contrary. The acquisition of this group in Tulcea is proof of our commitment. Thanks to this expansion, patients in southeastern Romania will now have access to more than 20 medical and surgical specialties, including medical optics and dentistry,” Marcu adds.
Asked about the main challenges and opportunities MedLife has faced over its three decades of existence, the CEO points to one key moment in the financial history: the company’s IPO.
“We prepared for it carefully, conducting financial audits and working with a Big 4 firm for a full decade before the listing. On December 21, 2016, MedLife (M) started trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of RON 530 million, following a 230 RON million offering. At the time, it was the largest private listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange and introduced private healthcare as a new sector for investors,” Marcu recalls.
The numbers tell the story of what followed. By 2024, MedLife had a market capitalisation of RON 3.2 billion, with its shares included in the BET and international indices. Through Pillar II private pension funds, 8.2 million Romanian employees indirectly have an exposure of about 35%. This translates to a sixfold increase over the past eight years, making MedLife the best-performing issuer in the BET index during this period, according to third-party calculations. For context, on December 21, 2016, the BET index was valued at 7,022 points. By the end of 2024, it had risen to 16,730 points—an increase of 138%, excluding dividends paid by listed companies.
Although Marcu has ventured into other businesses, particularly in hospitality, he emphasises that MedLife’s success lies in its unique and innovative business model, specifically designed for the healthcare sector.
“What I would say to entrepreneurs out there is that if they want to be leaders in their field—and to hold on to that status—the gateway is listing on the stock exchange. Sooner or later, a major player will acquire them if they don’t take this step. Going public allows entrepreneurs to stay in their company for years because investors aren’t just buying the product; they’re also investing in the people and the story. That said, listing comes with a lot of hard work—enter these major financial markets without in-depth knowledge of your own business or the financial data behind it, you’re better off not doing it. Authenticity is also crucial. Don’t try to sell what you don’t have. Investors recognise authenticity immediately, and they understand whether a story has real growth potential or not,” Marcu explains.
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