Soviet Public Health System: A New Stage in Medicine

Soviet medicine is based on the progressive theory of dialectical materialism. The object of Soviet medicine is to improve the health of the entire population. The work of the public health system is aimed at broad prophylactic and health-improving measures, and at rendering skilled medical aid free of charge.

The prophylactic trend is an important feature of the Soviet medicine in compliance with the tradition of the Russian clinical school. The founder of the first clinic in Moscow, Mudrov, wrote more that 150 years ago: " To take into our hands healthy people, to protect them from diseases, either inherited or threatening, and to prescribe an appropriate way of life for them—this is the most honest and trouble-free duty of the physician, since it is easier to prevent a disease than to cure it. This is the first duty of the physician". Zakharyin emphasized that " only hygiene can successfully fight diseases".

This was the challenge of the past. Now prevention of diseases, both in­fectious and non-infectious, has become the main object of Soviet medicine, which is successfully fulfilled by the Soviet public health system. The socialist public health system fights diseases according to a thoughtful plan and the results of this planned struggle are wonderful: health stan­dards of the population of the Soviet Union are among the best in the world. Improvement of the well-being of the population and the high cultural standards facilitate further development of the Soviet public health to decrease morbidity and mortality among population.

Social prophylaxis (prevention of diseases) is accomplished in the Soviet Union by the continuous growth of the well-being and the cultural level of the Soviet people. The living and working conditions are constantly improved. The quality of food is controlled by special authorities. The liv­ing conditions in large regions are improved by irrigation and other measures. The health of people is protected and diseases are prevented by a wide range of measures including the improvement of the well-being and cultural level of the population, by development of all links in the public health system, by giving medical assistance free of charge, by health educa­tion of the population, mother and child care, by development of sports, by building rest homes, sanatoria, and health resorts, and by the Soviet social security system. There are many dispensaries and special (car-

diological, gastroenterological, etc.) centres and hospitals, special depart­ments at policlinics, and sanatoria in the Soviet Union. Dispensaries are specialized centres that are responsible for the early detection of disease and give regular medical assistance to patients with chronic diseases, hospitalize patients, organize prophylactic aid at home and in industry. The number of hospitals and beds for stationary treatment of patients is continuously growing.

The Constitution of the Soviet Union guarantees protection of its citizens health. The Communist Party and the Government of the Soviet Union do their best to further improve the system of health protection and prevention of diseases among the population of the Soviet Union.

Chapter 3