Dilemmas of health promotion and political changes in Eastern Europe

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Abstract
Mortality and morbidity trends in the Western and the Eastern parts of Europe have differed considerably during the past three decades. The ‘socialist’ political regimes have been largely responsible for the deterioration of health of the population. The main features of this unfavourable situation can be summarized as follows: low value set on man, on human life and health; extreme tensions between depressed living standards, aspirations and their gratification; negative effects of the reproduction of the social structure; chronic lack of genuine human communities, human relationships and social support, disorders of the value system. The author presents in case study the dilemmas the Hungarian health promotion programme has to face. In the 1990s in Eastern Europe health promotion has to face the following challenges: How is it possible to carry out effective preventive activities under circumstances of economic crisis, lack of resources and the population's declining living standards? What will be the new responsibilities in prevention related to poverty, deprivation and unemployment? What will the new health care system be like? How should health be promoted in reorganizing local societies, communities? In the Eastern Europe of today, there is a greater need than ever before for health promotion.

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