title: The once and future health system in the former Yugoslavia: myths and realities.
abstract: This paper debunks three widely believed myths about the former Yugoslavia's health care system: that it was characterized by: (1) social ownership of "self-managing" provider organizations; (2) a commitment to primary health care; and (3) a faith in what might be called the "march of progress"--the health system's continuous expansion and improvement. In contrast to this picture, we present an alternative view and conclude with a word of caution for American consultants and health care reformers in Eastern European countries and newly independent states: If universal health coverage is to be maintained, beware of reforms that do no more than substitute private for public organizational forms.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saric
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Rodwin
mesh_terms: D002960:Civil Disorders; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D011057:Politics; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends; D013222:State Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D015022:Yugoslavia