The position of pneumology and physiology in the health care system of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.

The medical specialization of "phtisiology" was extended to the specialization of "tuberculosis and respiratory diseases" (corresponding to the demonination of "pneumology and phtisiology") in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in 1966. This branch is an additional specialization of the basic internal medicine. It provides preventive as well curative care for population of all age groups, as far as tuberculosis and increased risk of tuberculosis are concerned. This medical branch covers persons with non-tuberculous diseases of the respiratory system aged 18 years and over, especially cases having tendency to deterioration, those with complicated course or functional disorders. Comparison of statistical data on activities of phtisiologic institutions in 1965 and institutions for tuberculosis and respiratory diseases in 1978 (see table 1) reveal the following information: --BCG vaccination of newborns exceeded in both years 98%. --Utilization of radiophotography for screening of selected groups with increased risk of tuberculosis or malignant respiratory tumours or for examination of patients with symptoms has been increasing. --Number of beds decreased by 35%, but at the same time the number of cases hospitalized increased by 36%. The average duration of treatment of tuberculous patients was shortened and proportion of persons hospitalized for non-tuberculous respiratory diseases increased.