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Medicina (Kaunas) 2004; 40 (9): 823-824

EDITORIAL

Ten-year anniversary of the Faculty of Public Health of Kaunas University of Medicine

Vilius Grabauskas
Editor-in-Chief of Journal "Medicina"

The social-economic progress, which was especially remarkable during the second half of the twentieth century, has greatly influenced epidemiological transition in human health. Chronic noncommunicable diseases gradually became a priority health problem globally, replacing in many instances infectious and environmental ones or presenting a double burden in less developed societies. Lithuania was not an exception where today nine out of ten deaths are caused by diseases of the circulatory system, cancer, external causes and chronic respiratory diseases.

Intensive etiological research has accumulated enough evidence that social-economic as well as life-style related factors are major contributors to the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Epidemiological research and progress in preventive medicine has shown the ways on how the risk for the development of noncommunicable diseases could be lowered through the implementation of large scale community based public health programs. It became obvious that to cope effectively with these new epidemics the training of a new generation of public health specialists able to plan and implement evidence based large-scale public health programs is a necessity.

This was also true for Lithuania, especially that until 1994 there was no formal university based training in new public health in the country. Since 1962 the sanitary physicians (hygienists) were trained at the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University following the training model for medical personnel. Long-lasting international collaboration of Kaunas University of Medicine (until 1990-ies Institute and Academy) first of all with the World Health Organization (WHO) in epidemiological research was the prerequisite for acquaintance with and adoption of contemporary concepts

for the prevention and control of major noncommunicable diseases. The critical mass of specialists working at international standards and who also were able to transmit this knowledge and skills to a younger generation was gradually increasing (1). When Lithuanian health system reform has started in 1990-ies the shortage of qualified personnel in new public health became obvious. This was not by chance that after a preparatory work an independent Faculty of Public Health was opened at Kaunas University of Medicine in 1994. It started with four-year bachelor degree program in public health. Intensive work and close collaboration with the WHO, Nordic School of Public Health, participation in European Union supported projects together with France, Finland and Sweden was the prerequisite to open master and doctoral (PhD) programs in 1998. A present three-step program in new public health (bachelor, master, and PhD) is successfully functioning at Kaunas University of Medicine and a systematic program for continuous education is being finalized. During the academic year 2003–2004 442 fellows were enrolled in various study programs: 213 students in bachelor program, 193 students – in master degree program (98 in regular and 95
in continuous), and 32 fellows – in PhD program.

The Faculty of Public Health is indeed young – ten years only. However, it has already made substantial contribution in training public health professionals whose expertise is especially important and needed in the process of reforming health system in the country. The research carried out by the specialists of this Faculty is well known in Europe and beyond. Papers published in this issue of the journal reflect only a small proportion of research being carried out at Kaunas University of Medicine in the area of public health.


Correspondence to V. Grabauskas, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eivenių 4, 50166 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: vilgra@kmu.lt

References

1. Grabauskas V. Nuo klasikinių epidemiologinių tyrinėjimų iki sveikatos politikos formavimo (Kauno-Roterdamo epidemiologinės programos patirtis). (From

classical epidemiological research to health policy formulation: contribution of Kaunas-Rotterdam Inter- vention Study.) Medicina (Kaunas) 2003;39(12):1184-92.