POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS: The Province of Vojvodina is a region with 16% of population aged 65 and over, average age of 38.1 years, and aging index 0.85%. Vital statistics show low birth rate, increased death rate and as a result - a negative population growth.
Morbidity and mortality: The leading causes of death were cardiovascular diseases, malignant diseases and injuries, accounting for more than 2/3 of all deaths. The most common outpatient morbidity of adult population included respiratory diseases, but cardiovascular diseases were of greater public health concern, accounting for more than 1/5 of the total morbidity. The hospital morbidity data showed that malignant diseases, cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal diseases were the most frequent. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: In 2005, a highly-developed network included 77 health-care institutions with 29.659 employees, out of which 20.960 were health professionals (4.577 doctors, 754 dentists and 423 pharmacists).