Some aspects of medical care in the USSR

Abstract

As a participant in the World Health Organization Seminar on Medical Care, which was held earlier this year in the Soviet Union, I had the opportunity of observing certain characteristic features of the Soviet system of medical care which, in some respects, render it quite unique. It is the purpose of this article to describe some of these features. First priority was given to the provision of elementary forms of first aid in those areas where medical services were non-existent and, concomitantly, to instruct the people in the rudiments of hygiene and health care. The next step was the setting up of small cottage-type hospitals which were sited so as to be within reasonable distance from a number of first aid points. Major operations were carried out however in Rayon hospitals, which were purposely established to cater for a wide range of facilities. The urban woman also has a domiciliary medical care service, and facilities are also being provided for adolescents to see specialists at polyclinics with whom they can discuss their problems and who give them advice. The desire to provide a medical service by highly qualified workers has developed almost into an obsession for specialization. It is practically true to say that Soviet Medical Schools do not produce "doctors" but "specialists". Moreover, the term prevention is taken in the widest possible sense. It is not taken to signify simply the prevention of disease but also the prevention of the exacerbation of pathological conditions already existing. Although the medical service is not completely free, of significant importance is the extraordinary role of health volunteers.