Orthopedic and trauma services in the healthcare system of Serbia
Vukasinović, Z.; Zivković, Z.; Spasovski, D.
Srpski Arhiv Za Celokupno Lekarstvo 136(11-12): 644-649
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-8179 PMID: 19177829 Document Number: 619939
Our aim has been to present the functioning of orthopaedic and trauma services in the healthcare system of Serbia. In the introduction, we present geographic, demographic, political and economic elements, which define more closely the position of Serbia in the Southeastern Europe. Further, the healthcare system of Serbia, organized in four levels, is presented: self-care, primary healthcare, secondary healthcare and tertiary healthcare, as well as the schedule of 20,157 physicians engaged in healthcare. In addition, we point out numerous problems, which the system is faced with. Special attention is paid to orthopaedic and trauma services active within the system, its development, current condition and personnel education. We have concluded that, despite this being a middle-income country, the healthcare system is well developed. With 524 orthopaedic surgeons, working in 56 specialized departments, musculoskeletal diseases and trauma management are covered at all three healthcare levels. Nevertheless, the authors also underline weaknesses that are mostly of technical nature. Measures for their elimination and improvement of the entire service are also suggested.