HEALTHCARE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SOCIAL POLICY OF THE SOVIET STATE IN THE LATE 1920S-30S OF THE XXTH CENTURY (BY THE MATERIALS OF NIZHNY NOVGOROD AND KIROV REGIONS)

Abstract

Background. The processes of modernisation in the late 20s-30s of the 20th century (or in the 20-30s of the 20th century) resulted in qualitative changes in all life spheres of the Russian society. The radical renewal of industrial production was accompanied by the creation of a complex social infrastructure. This causes interest in the organization of the healthcare system as a criterion for socially-oriented management under a large-scale transformation of Russia. Purpose. The aim of the article is to analyse health care as a modernisation element of social and economic changes during the Great Leap. Materials and methods. The author bases his research on unpublished archival materials, materials of local periodicals, normative acts of the Soviet government. When analysing the material, the author resorts to special methods of historical research. Results. The results of the study show that in the 20-30s of the 20th century, health care becomes one of the most important areas of state policy, flexibly incorporating into the modernisation course. The organisation of health care took place in difficult conditions of forming a new state, restoring after post-war devastation and combating epidemics. The chosen vector of the socio-economic course determined social priorities for healthcare. A differentiated, class approach to medical care for the population proceeded in accordance with the program guidelines outlined in the five-year plans. Maintaining the health of the working class was regarded one of the leading factors of production. Under the lack of workers, one of the most important public policies was the involvement of women in production and, as a result, the deployment of preventive medical measures in childcare centres. At the same time, there is an apparent bias in medical care in favor of urban areas. In the conditions of forced industrialisation, limited resources, the agricultural sector was considered more a source of financing than an object of investment. In general, the health care system built according to the principles of N.A. Semashko provided for the unity of command, a wide territorial coverage, including the provision of medical care to the entire population. But historical conditions did not allow the declared provisions to be realised full-scale. Practical implications. The results of the study can be used in writing generalizing works on the social policy in the late 1920s-30s of the XXTH century.

Keywords

• ussr
• state priorities
• healthcare
• industrialisation
• collectivisation
• health maintenance
• social policy