Rehabilitation medicine in countries of Central/Eastern Europe.

PURPOSE

To describe attributes of rehabilitation medicine common to the five countries of Central Eastern Europe (CEE) and their implications for future challenges.

METHODS

Critical collection and study of pertinent data on evolvement and present state of rehabilitation medicine in CEE countries by a coordinated team of rehabilitation experts from each of the relevant countries.

RESULTS

CEE countries are similar in their need for rehabilitation medicine, its evolvement, present state and current practice. Settings largely emerged without strategic planning on the national level and lagged behind those in Central and Western Europe both in time and content.

CONCLUSION

The framework that evolved in all except Slovenia is not appropriate to needs. In order to meet future challenges all five CEE countries need the incorporation of inpatient, outpatient and community-based rehabilitation into one system.