Czech geriatrics: history and current systemic transformation
Authors:
Božena Jurašková
Authors‘ workplace:
III. interní gerontometabolická klinika Lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy a Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové
; Subkatedra geriatrie Lékařské fakulty v Hradci Králové Univerzity Karlovy
; Česká gerontologická a geriatrická společnost ČLS JEP
Published in:
Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2026, 15, č. 3: 103-107
Category:
Review Article
doi:
https://doi.org/10.61568/geri/50-6779/20260805/144183
Overview
Czech geriatrics has an institutional tradition of almost one hundred years, but its development has long been limited by unequal access to services and by an inaccurate identification of the specialty solely with post-acute and long-term care. This narrative review outlines the historical development of the field and critically assesses its current systemic transformation. Major milestones include approval of the National Plan for the Development of Geriatric Care in the Czech Republic until 2035 and launch of the GeriPRO project. By mid-2026, several system-level achievements can be documented: a national strategy with an implementation structure and indicators; a funded project with defined outputs; preparation of a standard for geriatric outpatient clinics and general principles of care; a care plan for patients with multimorbidity and cognitive impairment; and preparation of pilot support for up to 15 geriatric outpatient clinics. The focus on functional status, frailty, independence and care coordination represents a substantial shift. Clinical and economic effects of the pilot, including hospitalisations, institutionalisation, functional outcomes and costs, have not yet been demonstrated and require prospective evaluation.
Keywords:
geriatrics – history – frailty – comprehensive geriatric assessment – functional status – National Plan – GeriPRO – geriatric outpatient clinic
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Labels
Geriatrics General practitioner for adults Orthopaedic prostheticsArticle was published in
Geriatrics and Gerontology
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