Ponderas Academic Hospital
Ponderas Academic Hospital is a leading private multi-specialty medical center in Bucharest, renowned for bariatric, metabolic, orthopedic, and minimally invasive robotic surgeries. It holds 10 international accreditations including JCI, SRC, and IFSO, making it a top choice for international patients seeking high-quality care at competitive prices. Surgeons like Prof. Dr. Cătălin Copăescu and Dr. Vlad Predescu, with over 30 years of experience, lead its centers of excellence.
Certifications & Accreditations
Our Treatments
Arthroscopy
$3,000 - $8,000Minimally invasive joint surgery
- Recovery: 1-6 weeks
- Duration: 30-90 minutes
- Anesthesia: local
Pacemaker Implant
$3,400 - $5,000Cardiac pacemaker insertion
- Recovery: 2-4 weeks
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Anesthesia: local
Orthopedics
$8,000 - $15,000Surgical procedures focused on the musculoskeletal system
Knee/Hip Replacement
$12,000 - $18,000Joint replacement surgery for improved mobility
- Recovery: 6-12 weeks
- Duration: 1-3 hours
- Anesthesia: general
Spine Surgery
$10,000 - $16,000Surgical treatment for spinal conditions
- Recovery: 4-12 weeks
- Duration: 2-6 hours
- Anesthesia: general
Weight Loss Surgery
$10,000 - $16,000Bariatric and weight management surgical procedures
Gastric Bypass
$12,490 - $13,057Weight loss bypass surgery
- Recovery: 2-4 weeks
- Duration: 2-4 hours
- Anesthesia: general
Gastric Sleeve
$11,000 - $14,874Stomach reduction surgery
- Recovery: 2-3 weeks
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Anesthesia: general
Sports Injury Repair
$7,000 - $13,000Surgical repair of athletic injuries
- Recovery: 4-12 weeks
- Duration: 1-3 hours
- Anesthesia: general
Heart & Vascular
$15,000 - $25,000Heart and cardiovascular system treatments
Surgical Oncology
Surgical removal of cancerous tumors
- Recovery: 2-8 weeks
- Duration: 1-6 hours
- Anesthesia: general
Our Medical Team
Alexandru Cristescu
Neurosurgeon
Neurosurgeon with 16 years of experience.
Banacu Mihail
Obstetrician-gynecologist
Obstetrician-gynecologist at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Bogdan Smeu, Ph.D.
General Surgery
Ph.D.
Specializes in General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, and Robotic Surgery.[6]
Catalin Copaescu
General surgeon
General surgeon with over 30 years of experience at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Catalin Copaescu, Prof.
General Surgery
Prof.
Professor experienced in surgical procedures at Ponderas Academic Hospital.[6]
Catalin Trifan
Cardiovascular surgeon
Cardiovascular surgeon with 11 years of experience.
Claudiu Manea
ENT doctor
ENT doctor with 21 years of experience.
Dr. Bogdan Smeu
Orthopedic Surgery
SRC Master Surgeon in Orthopedic Surgery
Master Surgeon specializing in orthopedic procedures with SRC accreditation.
Dr. Catalin Copaescu
Bariatric Surgeon
General surgeon with over 33 years of experience, leading bariatric surgery at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Dr. Simona Filip
General Surgeon
Consultant General Surgeon, Surgeon of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery
Consultant General Surgeon and Surgeon of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery at Ponderas Academic Hospital.[2]
Dr. Victor Tomulescu
Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
SRC Master Surgeon in Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
Master Surgeon specializing in metabolic and bariatric surgical procedures with international SRC recognition.
Dr. Vlad Predescu
Orthopedic Surgery
COEOS
Recognized for Center of Excellence in Orthopedic Surgery accreditation.
Gabriel Crasmariu
Interventional cardiologist
Interventional cardiologist at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Gerald Filip
General surgeon, Breast surgeon
General and breast surgeon at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Ionut Hutopila
General surgeon
General surgeon at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Paul Stanciu
Gynecologist, Gynecologic oncologist
Gynecologist and gynecologic oncologist at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Prof. Dr. Catalin Copaescu
Bariatric and Robotic Surgery
Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery
Medical director of Ponderas Academic Hospital and coordinator of the Robotic Surgery department. Internationally recognized for expertise in minimally invasive and robotic surgical procedures.
Simona Filip
General surgeon
General surgeon at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Customer Reviews
Based on 8 reviews
"I've been recently twice in the Emergency Room of Ponderas in Floreasca, Bucharest and the second time I've been advised to remain hospitalized. Since, during my life I've unfortunately experienced hospitals in Germany, Turkey, USA and Romania too, I can say Ponderas is a top-notch hospital. The triage and investigations in the Emergency Room are fluid and fast, using best medical equipment and in house labs, but the best is the professional, kind and empathic personnel. I had the same positive experience during my hospitalization. I wish everyone to not need a doctor, but if, I can warmly recommend Ponderas."
"We had an exceptionally positive experience at Ponderas Academic Hospital one week ago. Our five-year-old daughter underwent a complex surgical procedure performed by an outstanding medical team, led by Dr. George Sălăvăstru and Dr. Denisa Cănuț. Both doctors provided prompt feedback following the surgery, clearly explaining all steps of the recovery process. Dr. Sălăvăstru demonstrated remarkable professionalism, extensive expertise, and exceptional care in working with young patients. In addition to the medical team’s high level of competence, the hospital offers excellent facilities, and the staff are highly trained, attentive, and genuinely patient-focused. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone involved for the dedicated care provided to our daughter."
"I had a double coxarthrosis (hip replacement) surgery at Ponderas Academic Hospital about six months ago, performed by Dr. Predescu, followed by physiotherapy with Ciprian Nitu. The entire experience was excellent from start to finish. Dr. Predescu is an outstanding professional who explained everything clearly and gave me a lot of confidence before the surgery. The operation went very well, and the results have exceeded my expectations. Equally important was the recovery process. I worked with Ciprian Nitu for physiotherapy, and his guidance, patience, and professionalism made a huge difference in my rehabilitation. The recovery program was well structured and adapted to my progress. Six months later, my recovery is going great. I can now enjoy activities that I used to struggle with before the surgery, and my quality of life has improved significantly. I’m very grateful to the entire team at Ponderas Academic for their professionalism, care, and support."
"I had a very good experience at this hospital. The medical staff were knowledgeable, compassionate, and attentive from start to finish. The facilities were clean and well-organized, and I felt cared for every step of the way. Nurses and doctors took the time to explain everything clearly, and I never felt rushed. I’m truly grateful for the high standard of care I received—thank you to the entire team!"
"A and E is down to the right of the main entrance. Be careful of the long drilled hole in the ground, if you aren't looking where you're going you could injure yourself. Quick, professional, calm and cheerful service by lovely staff. Hardly any wait to see a doctor when I attended about 8.30am, even though she had emergencies before and after. She said she ran from the emergency to check my wound. Option to have crutches, 100 lei per crutch. Wound care cost 100 lei and getting it checked by a doctor cost 460 lei. They may automatically book you for an X ray, so make sure you tell them if you don't want that. Also they may use antibiotic cream, it was itchy so I washed it off. Antibiotic cream can cause sensitivity and resistance. I said that my leg was itchy and the nurse said that's normal with a wound, but it wasn't for me. As soon as I washed the antibiotic cream off it was fine. The wound was not infected, so I didn't need it. They don't tell you what things are so you will need to ask if you want to know. Don't lock the toilet, I had to be relaased from outside! The visit was done in an hour. The doctors speak English, the nurses don't."
"I strongly suggest to this private hospital to revisit the schedule followed in the Emergency rooms for children. During a very well known flue epidemic season, having only 2 doctors for more than 40 patients during weekend it is clearly the easiest way to chaos and frustration among the patients. If we were willing to go with a 7+ waiting hours, we would have went to a public hospital. A private hospital should raise to the high expectations one can have when paying biggest tariffs in the city. I also see that only good reviews have replies from the hospital. I am wondering what happens to the not so good ones?"
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EU: free; US/UK: Schengen visa
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Climate & Environment
Average 11.6°C · Humid Subtropical
Green bars = comfortable range (18-28°C)
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Business Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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