Cardiac surgery and its place in hi-tech health care evolution

Emphasis in the article is placed on the development of a high-technology health care (HTHC) branch, specifically cardiac surgery, which started undergoing pervasive changes in 2006 when the state pioneered the task to provide HTHC for Russian citizens.It is shown that cardiac surgery has the biggest share in the federal budget spending pattern because of both high prices for the equipment used, consumables, medications, etc. and the state's purposeful policy aimed at reducing mortality resulted from circulation pathologies. In the last 5 years significant funds have been allocated by the Russian government to set up new subjects in the branch. Investments in the reconstruction and development of current facilities have made a great impact on the changes in the branch structure and some facilities' positions. Today the branch has a well defined concentration - 18% of the current medical centers are involved in performing 74% of the state's task. The analysis of the branch by using structural analysis instruments has enabled to identify its leaders and to determine some critical development trends. It is suggested that while determining the prospective scope of the branch it is worthwhile relying on the experience gained by the most successful health care systems in Europe. Such a method of defining its potential dimensions is considered to meet the most rigid criteria of quality. At present the branch is believed to present a new or a re-forming sector. Understanding the evolution processes taking place in the branch will allow the existing facilities, which are looking forward to further development, to make strategic decisions on maintenance of the existing competitive advantages and creation of the new ones