CLINICAL-PHARMACOLOGY IN EASTERN-EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

The current status of clinical pharmacology (CP) in the countries of t he former Eastern block is presented. The difficulties in obtaining an accurate comparative view are pointed out. CP is unevenly developed i n Eastern European countries and the number of hours devoted to basic/ clinical pharmacology differs considerably 100/nil to 240/50. The same is true for the orientation of clinical pharmacology, where present. It is mainly basic in only a few countries (Rumania, Turkey, some part s of the former Yugoslavia) and mainly clinical in Czecho-Slovakia, Cr oatia, Hungary, Poland, Greece. The number of CP units and CP speciali sts varies greatly as well (from none to more than 10 per country). Th e awareness that CP, in many countries is still young and the branch o f (clinical) medicine is of great importance, not only for rational ph armacotherapy but also for other ser-vices as well, education and rese arch is growing. In spite of the fact that the present status of CP in Eastern European countries is generally unsatisfactory, there are rea listic chances that in the (near?) future, CP will develop to match th e activities now present in the more developed countries.