International comparative analysis: main findings and conclusions

This paper compares the experience of health and inequality reviewed in the Bulgarian, Hungarian, Polish and Soviet profiles. With health systems very similar in formal organization and stated aims, health status based on death rates has followed very similar tendencies in each country. Sharp post-war falls in infant death slowed down from the 60s onwards, but continued to fall. Life expectancy also increased but again from the late 60s began to fall, particularly for middle-aged men. Inequalities in health-care provision and access have been paralleled by inequalities in health outcome between areas and socio-economic groups. Comparative analysis, however, suggests that the dysfunctions of the health system have only been contributing factors to more fundamental causes stemming from socio-economic conditions, cultural and collective behaviour and the priorities of the political and economic system. Written before the transforming political events of late 1989, the reviews emphasise the need for change and a search for more effective and equitable systems and policies.