[Present state and perspectives of endocrinology in Czechoslovakia]

The contemporary state of the sub-discipline of endocrinology within the framework of internal medicine is generally considered rather desolate, but so far actual data were lacking. Based on an analysis of data provided by regional specialists in the Czech Republic and by regional (district) specialists in internal medicine in Slovak republic it may be said that in the majority of health institutions the number of endocrinologists does not reach even the unsatisfactory standard (i. e. 1 endocrinologist per 150 to 250,000 population), that specialized training of endocrinologists, specialists in internal medicine and other specialist is not ensured, that there are not adequate numbers of community doctors and factory medical officers, that there are not adequate capacities of specialized laboratory examinations and that adequate collaboration with other disciplines is not ensured (the position is in particular alarming as regards immunological methods and cytological processing of specimens obtained by aspiration biopsy from the thyroid gland. With regard to these data the authors recommend to raise the numbers of endocrinologists so that in institutions corresponding to hospitals with policlinics type II there will be one endocrinologist per 50-100,000 population, to improve the standard and availability of auxiliary examinations, to ensure endocrinological in-patient care at the level of hospitals with policlinics type III and to create specialized centres within the framework of the research base or university hospitals. It is important to resolve the link between endocrinology and other disciplines (paediatrics, gynaecology etc). It is also essential to coordinate closely therapy, education and research, Federal coordination is essential.