engleski

Neurology and Public Health. Economic Consequences of the Cost of Treatment and Diagnostic Tests

Relatively recently neuroepidemiological investigations have disclosed a burden of neurological diseases and disorders as well as their social and economic implications in contemporary societies, both in developed and developing nations, constituting up to 25 % of morbidity and mortality. New diagnostic techniques, incorporated into everyday neurologists' practice, created also in a relatively short time new subspecialties in the field of neurology, legitimate from educational, scientific and organizational standpoints. Relatively recently, neurology became a science of understanding the functions of the human brain, studying human behavior. The specific algorithms may be formed for optimal and rational diagnostics and management in order to find the economical solutions for the existing problems, but they must be modified in time, adapted to a regional or local situation. Even in rich industrial countries questions have been raised on the high expenses of modern neurological diagnostics and therapies. Problems of the costs and benefits in delivery of neurological services have not been investigated in its entirety. They were approached at the XIVth World Congress of Neurology (New Delhi 1989) at the Symposium on neurology in developing countries, studied afterwards in the newly founded WFN Research Group on the Organization and Delivery of Neurological Services at several meetings and two international conferences. A system of horizontally and vertically connected hierarchical organization of neurological services, based on active primary health service, has been proposed, applicable in all health systems, warranting economical use of expensive facilities. The described developments in the concepts of neurology are a natural consequence of the scientific and economic progress. Modern societies should therefore regard increased spending on health, and so in neurology, as legitimate, and a true indicator of the responsible attitudes of the national and local governments towards their population. It is self-evident that the better and more efficient health service must be more expensive. A need for continuous education of neurologists and non-neurologists has been repeatedly stressed. We can hope, that the XVIth World Congress of Neurology in Buenos Aires will be a turning point in the understanding the importance of neurology in public health, engaging the World Health Organization in noble activities in promotion of care for the healthy nervous system and brain, the organ of human sensorymotor and mental capacities.

organization of neurological services; costs-benefits investigations in neurology; neurology and public health

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