Radiology in Serbia

Abstract

Harris RD, Stojanovic S, Stepanov S, Popov V [AQ1] erbia (or the remaining Republic of Yugoslavia, along with Montenegro) is a country isolated by years of war, a repressive dictatorship, and United Nations sanctions [1]. Its infrastructure is decaying, in part due to 1999 NATO bombings, but more universally due to lack of funds and attention. Most of these untoward events, however, are in the past, and the country slowly is attempting to become politically and economically more aligned with the rest of Europe and the West. I recently visited Serbia for a week of medical volunteer work, including lecturing on sonography topics at a medical school (Novi Sad) and in a city where I was based (Zrejnanin, about 40 miles [64 km] north of Belgrade). I also had the chance to tour several radiology departments in Serbia, and formulate my impression of the field there. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on the status of radiology in this strife-torn country, with a longer-term goal of continuing the improvement of health care in Serbia.