[The relation between economics and medicine in the implementation of a nationwide cardiovascular program]

The health services, being part of the tertiary sphere, must rely as far as material resources are concerned on the results of the economic policy of the state. This has, however, also a feedback effect: economics can have favourable results only when the health status of the population permits the implementation of pretentious economic targets. Thus dialectic relations are involved. Nationwide health programmes must among others promote the health status of the population. It is, however, not possible for the health services to ensure these programmes self-handed. Every section of the population must be responsible for its share. This implies to legal, moral, economic professional, training and finally also political responsibility. The authors discuss the most important problems associated with ensuring mutual relations of these section in the implementation of the cardiovascular programme.