[Public health administration in Estonia]

All parts of the former Soviet Union experience enormous problems in their clinical health sectors. However, reforms of public health administrations are also needed. This is illustrated, using Estonia as an example, based on the author's function as a consultant to the Estonian Ministry of Health. At the local level, expertise should be concentrated in a few regional public health centres with strong laboratory support. Centrally, the new Ministry of Social Affairs must play a strong role to make sure that the traditional system is adapted. "Organization development" and postgraduate training should be useful instruments in this process. Support from the Nordic countries is encouraged.