Current uses of ISACS-TC registry in Mostar.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) contributes greatly to inequalities in health in Europe. The acute myocardial infarction (MI) in hospital death rate in Bosnia and Herzegovina is three fold higher than in European Union countries before the enlargement in 2004. There is also a striking difference in mortality between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Central and East European countries that joined the EU in 2004. Rapid development of high technology treatment procedures, which followed the economic recovery of the European Union countries, still have only limited influence on the overall control of MI death rate. Large potential to control MI death rate lies in developing PCI capable network with target to rapid reperfusion therapy in MI patients. The hypothesis that social factors may contribute to explain high MI death rate is attractive, but still is an assumption. However, if confirmed, transforming such knowledge into a practical health policy would be a great challenge. A resource-saving balanced assessment approach to health technology development is warrant in Bosnia and Herzegovina. An international help is needed.