Initiatives for establishment of Rural Health in Hungary

Abstract

There is a strong and well-managed primary health care in Hungary which fulfils quite well its gate-keeper function. But there is no rural health care. The disadvantages of the villagers are considered as a social problem. Hungarian Academic Association of Rural Health (HAARH ) set its main target in 2oo3 to form and elaborate rural health care in Hungary. The association has finished different studies on health and social status of rural population, on the health services in rural areas, on the mental status of rural family physicians, on patient-compliance and on cost-effective medication. The members of HAARH made efforts on implementing Rural Health as an element of Medical Universities' curriculum, to disseminate the knowledge of Rural Health among non medical partners, to make Rural Health accepted as an independent discipline and to be studied in health care universities. The studies are finished, their results are published, and the ongoing new surveys are on alcoholism and on hypertension. The Association has its special conference in every year on different topics in connection with rural and remote health. The summery of them are sent to the chief officers of Health Care in the Ministry, in the Public Health Institute and in the Professional Chamber. HAARH reaches the honour to be accepted as a special group of Professional College of Family Medicine and takes part in the preparation of elaborating professional guide-lines for GP's and represents special interests in preparation of different laws. Rural health is taught in the Medical Universities, and members of HAARH pays active role in the forming of curricula. A functioning and fruitful cooperation is under construction with the Hungarian NGO-s and with the national and international Rural Health Associations.