[Gastroenterology in the new century in Venezuela. A first five years situational diagnosis]

Once the elaboration of CIE-10 Gastroenterology we used two indicators (Health and Management) as quantifiable measurements that reflect the critical success factors in the specialty. HEALTH INDICATORS:

13,21% of main medical complains in primary care concern to Gastroenterology. Four of them rank among the first 25 ("Diarrhea", "Abdominal pain", "Helmintiasis" and "Other Esophagus, Stomach and Bowel diseases"). At the specialty care, Acid-peptic disease ranked as the first main complain according with 56-73.3% of the gastroenterologist consulted (Public and Private care) followed by Gastrointestinal reflux, Irritable bowel, Constipation, Lithiasis, Diverticular disease, Hemorrhages, Jaundice, Cirrhosis, Amibiasis, Pancreatitis, Colon cancer, Polyps, Hepatitis and Colopathy.

11,4% of the total deaths among Venezuelans are by gastrointestinal causes and five of them count among the first 25, with wide regional variability. Trujillo reports major mortality by liver disease (3%) followed by Vargas, District Federal, Tachira (2.8%). Cirrhosis and Fibrosis are more frequent in Táchira (2.3%) Trujillo, Vargas (2,1%) Some regions report mainly infections and diarrheas. Major cancer mortality is in Táchira (6,73% of deaths in the State) followed by Merida and Trujillo. MANAGEMENT INDICATORS: Services Demand. 2,86 consult/habitant/year in internal medicine and 0.77 en specialties. Services Offer. 793 Gastroenterologists (3.4/10.000 habitants). 44.5% concentrated in D.Federal, followed by Táchira (3.9%) Carabobo, Zulia y Mérida. Human Resources Formation. 16 Post-graduated Programs graduate 70 gastroenterologists annually. The Gastroenterology Education Agreement 2006 unified the Venezuelan Gastroenterologist profile and the graduation requirements. The Venezuelan Gastroenterology Society, age 60, has extraordinary national and international projection through its scientific publication (GEN Magazine). This analysis of the present of Gastroenterology in Venezuela allows us the strategically planning of its future, in order to satisfy the population needs in the specialty in a rational and effective way.