Abstract
The changing paradigm of health as well as its new tasks requires constant updating of state health policy. Health of the population in the Slovak Republic is considerably worse according to many indicators in comparison to the advanced countries of the European Union. The new health policy should reflect the economic capacity of the country based on the current data about health of the population, the requirements of the healthcare providers and the healthcare sector itself. Its modification should be based on updated information on the health status of the population and its trends as well as the situation in use of medical devices and equipment. It reflects the contribution of these factors and should be designed to provide healthcare in the most appropriate way. Aspect of the medical equipment localisation in the Slovak regions is an important point making solution of the mentioned issues clearer. Results of the analysis have confirmed the relevant facts there is unsuitable distribution of the medical equipment among the healthcare facilities in the Slovak Republic.
TopBackground
Modern medical equipment and technologies enable efficient and rapid diagnosis and treatment of diseases, hence their deployment in the health system necessity (Rosina et al., 2014). In addition to the quantifiable economic savings also it happens to humane treatment, prevention of possible complications, and thus to the elimination of the additional costs in the event of subsequent medical care for patients. Timely and successful diagnostics will save unnecessary medical procedures according to experts who make up one third – analysis of the European Association of medical technology Eucomed. Modern medical technologies, modern approaches to diagnosis and treatment combined with early detection also allow to shorten hospitalisation time for some diseases from several weeks to a few days. Reducing the number of hospital admissions and inpatient treatment time and replace feature to make it by the day surgery has been a global trend lately (Gavurová & Šoltés, 2014). In addition to radical savings in the health system derived from therapeutic and diagnostic procedure in conjunction with application of the latest research findings and health technologies, the macroeconomic view on this issue is also important. Within the medical technology industry in Europe more than 500,000 people are employed, making it a production of medical technologies important element of the gross domestic product of individual European countries. Upgrading of medical technologies occurs not only to improve them, but also to their constant replacement of modern and innovative technologies in the short term. This is confirmed by the fact that, for instance in 2012 the European Patent Office received more than 10,000 patent applications in the field of medical technology and the number is increasing. It is related to the significant progress in research and development.
Despite the positive development of modern medical technology an important component in the process of successful diagnosis and treatment becomes their availability. Availability of advanced medical technologies in the Slovak Republic is not proportional and regionally balanced. There are various problems that have long-term systemic nature (Gavurová & Šoltés, 2014; Kneppo et al., 2014).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Health Care: A range of activities and measures leading to prolonged and sustained life of individuals, to improve quality of life and its protection, promotion, strengthening, improving and restoring health.
Healthcare Facility: A place where medical equipment is used to perform health care.
Efficiency: Known as effectiveness or productivity generally refers to the efficiency of the used resources and the utility obtained by their use. It is a ratio of inputs and outputs of an activity or a system.
System of Health Care: Provision of health services. It is one component of health care and health policy determined by the state.
Equipment: A device used in healthcare facilities to perform health care.
Healthcare: A social set of professional knowledge institutions, establishments and authorities, workers and their corresponding activities, serving specifically to providing health care with an appropriate order to promote, preserve and restore health.
Health Policy: A guideline applied to health care system by state authorities responsible for health services.