An inquiry with Berlin hospitals on the care of patients with acute myocardial infarction revealed that only 30% were treated on wards guaranteeing optimum supervision and treatment according to their equipment and staff. The inquiry further shows which procedures have gained ground in the treatment of dysrhythmias and heart failure and in the prevention of thrombosis. An improvement of the care is to a lesser extent to be expected from the further development of costly therapeutical specialities but rather from administrative measures ensuring disease-specific admission to appropriate hospitals. This calls for authorities to attend to this task.