We have investigated the effects of repression and ethnic cleansing on the Health Care System in Kosova during the decade of segregation and apartheid (which escalated to genocide) and the initial years of reconstruction after the war (1 990-2003). We have been looking at resources in the system, its usage by the population and its performance in combating health problems.
For the baseline, the data of 1990 were used and then compared with health indicators (i) after the start of destruction and (ii) after the postwar attempt of revitalization and restructuring.
We have found that the ethnically based reduction of the number of medical doctors and nurses in the health institutions as well as the deterioration of the economical situation lead to a decrease of immunization, an increase in the number of epidemics and the number of communicable diseases, as well as an increase in malnutrition and infant mortality.
Lack of trust in "ethnically pure" hospitals decreased the number of admissions of Kosova Albanians. This eventually resulted in a general increase of the mortality rate.
As an example, we have documented that there is a direct link between the reduction of health workers, the deterioration of the economical situation and the increase in the incidence of tuberculosis in Kosova.
Remarkably, ethnically motivated denial to work at state owned health institutions, has mobilized citizens and medical professionals to set up a parallel health care system and charitable network through the country. But, surprisingly, most of the charitable clinics have become dysfunctional after the war even though the need for their services was still present.
We have observed that by the distraction of the health care system in Kosova, the Serbian regime's aim was to introduce fear and uncertainty for the future of Kosova Albanians, to force them to leave Kosova, and through that to achieve demographic and ethnic change in country.
The post war reconstruction of health institutions and facilities was faster and more effective than the "return" of human resources. Therefore gaps in human resource created during the years of repression will require more time and resources than the physical reconstruction of the system.
We have concluded that the decrease in the number of medical professionals and institutions, followed by the deterioration of the economical situation has deteriorated the health status of the targeted populations (that is Kosova Albanians). [Author p. 2]