HEALTH-STATUS IN THE CZECH AND SLOVAK FEDERAL-REPUBLIC

Health status in the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic (CSFR) since 1950 is reviewed and compared with health status in Austria, West Germany (as was) and Sweden. CSFR performance in child health and communicable disease control has been good overall, although infant and child mortality declines have fallen behind those in Western European countries in recent years. Life expectancy at birth has stagnated and is now substantially lower than in Western Europe, while life expectancy at 15 years for males has declined. Substantial excess adult mortality exists in the CSFR compared to Western European countries. This disparity is particulary marked in males, and is largely due to high rates of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Public expenditure in the health sector is likely to decline in real terms over the next few years. In this climate, it is essential that an adequate level of investment in public health is maintained and that resources are allocated to only the most cost-effective programmes.