Health care relief to neighbors: Split University Hospital during the 1991-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the workload of the Split University Hospital during the war and its role in providing help to the neighboring countries.


METHODS
We reviewed all available records of patients admitted to the four (out of 15) departments: General Surgery, Traumatology, Dermatovenerology, and Pulmonology. The files of 37,821 patients (78% of total number) treated during 1990-1995 were analyzed.


RESULTS
The workload of the hospital paralleled the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) -- the number of patients from BH increased more than 10-fold between 1990 and 1993, including during the time of armed conflict between BH Croats and Bosniaks (1993-94). Among them, there were 84% of ethnic Croats and 16% of ethnic Bosniaks. The hospital spent US$6.2 million (18% of total costs) on the treatment of BH citizens. Approximately two thirds of BH citizens (62%) were treated at one of the surgical departments, and approximately one third of Bosniak patients were young males, admitted for treatment of war-related injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
The Split University Hospital took a large burden of managing BH citizens, despite the armed conflict of Bosnian Croats and Bosniaks, indicating the high professionalism of the hospital staff and management. Such attitude can contribute to peace and post-war reconciliation in the region.
Marasović
Dujomir
D
Department of Dermatovenerology, Split University Hospital, Spinciceva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia. mate.grljusic@st.inet.hr
Grljusić
Marijana
M
Mirić
Dinko
D
Musić
Ivana
I
Brzović
Milka
M
Lukić
Ivan Kresimir
IK
D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D017523:Croatia; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014857:Warfare; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*