Eduardo Cruz-Coke
Encyclopedia
Eduardo Cruz-Coke Lassabe (April 22, 1899 - March 18, 1974) was a Chile
an political figure, the conservative candidate in Chile's 1946 presidential election
and the principal creator of the Chilean health system.
Cruz-Coke was born in Valparaíso
, Chile, the son of Ricardo Cruz-Coke and of Celeste Lassabe. He completed his secondary studies at the Padres Franceses in Santiago, and later graduated as a medical doctor
from the Universidad de Chile in 1921. While still a student, Cruz-Coke together with classmate Emilio Tizzoni, founded the National Association of Catholic Students (ANEC) based on the Catholic social teaching
s. Cruz-Coke became its first president, and in 1920 he joined the Conservative party
.
After working as a microscopy assistant to professor Juan Noé, in 1925 he became professor of physiology
and pathology
at the same university, a position he retained until 1955. The same year, he travelled to Berlin to a sexology
congress and remained in Europe studying for a year. At his return, he founded the Society of Biology of Santiago in 1928. Between 1927 and 1937 he was Chief of Medicine at the San Juan de Dios Hospital.
Between 1937 and 1938 Cruz-Coke served as Minister of Public Health, Social Assistance and Welfare
appointed by President Arturo Alessandri
. During his tenure, Cruz-Coke implemented a health program based upon a strictly scientific (as opposed to politic) approach to tackle the main health challenges, particularly maternal and infant mortality. He was the force behind Law 6026 (for Mother and Child) and Law 6174 (of Preventive Medicine). He set up a "National Food Council" that defined innovative policies to improve the alimentary weaknesses, particularly among the low-income sectors, and organized the Preventive Medicine Services to diminish labour sickness. The measures had a positive impact in Public Health indexes and were followed by its successors.
In 1941, Cruz-Coke was elected a senator
for Santiago and was reelected in 1949. In 1946, he was proclaimed presidential candidate
by the Conservative party
, but a split of his voting base between him and Fernando Alessandri
resulted in the triumph of Gabriel González Videla
, with Cruz-Coke finishing in second place.
After the end of his senatorial term in 1957, he decided not to run for reelection. In 1958 he was named Ambassador to Peru
, where he remained until 1960. In 1963 he was named the first president of the newly established National Committee on Atomic Energy , and in 1965 produced the first plan for the use of nuclear power
in the mining industries of the north of Chile. He died in Santiago
, in 1974, at the age of 74.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an political figure, the conservative candidate in Chile's 1946 presidential election
Chilean presidential election, 1946
A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1946 to elect the successor to Juan Antonio Ríos, who died in office in June of that year.-Popular vote:Source: -Congressional election:Source:...
and the principal creator of the Chilean health system.
Cruz-Coke was born in Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, Chile, the son of Ricardo Cruz-Coke and of Celeste Lassabe. He completed his secondary studies at the Padres Franceses in Santiago, and later graduated as a medical doctor
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the Universidad de Chile in 1921. While still a student, Cruz-Coke together with classmate Emilio Tizzoni, founded the National Association of Catholic Students (ANEC) based on the Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church on matters of poverty and wealth, economics, social organization and the role of the state...
s. Cruz-Coke became its first president, and in 1920 he joined the Conservative party
Conservative Party (Chile)
The Conservative Party of Chile was one of the principal Chilean political parties since its foundation in 1836 until 1949, when it broke apart. In 1953 it reformed as the United Conservative Party and in 1966 joined with the Liberal Party to form the National Party...
.
After working as a microscopy assistant to professor Juan Noé, in 1925 he became professor of physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
at the same university, a position he retained until 1955. The same year, he travelled to Berlin to a sexology
Sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism....
congress and remained in Europe studying for a year. At his return, he founded the Society of Biology of Santiago in 1928. Between 1927 and 1937 he was Chief of Medicine at the San Juan de Dios Hospital.
Between 1937 and 1938 Cruz-Coke served as Minister of Public Health, Social Assistance and Welfare
Ministry of Health (Chile)
The Ministry of Health of Chile , also known as MINSAL, is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of planning, directing, coordinating, executing, controlling and informing the public health policies formulated by the President of Chile...
appointed by President Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938....
. During his tenure, Cruz-Coke implemented a health program based upon a strictly scientific (as opposed to politic) approach to tackle the main health challenges, particularly maternal and infant mortality. He was the force behind Law 6026 (for Mother and Child) and Law 6174 (of Preventive Medicine). He set up a "National Food Council" that defined innovative policies to improve the alimentary weaknesses, particularly among the low-income sectors, and organized the Preventive Medicine Services to diminish labour sickness. The measures had a positive impact in Public Health indexes and were followed by its successors.
In 1941, Cruz-Coke was elected a senator
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...
for Santiago and was reelected in 1949. In 1946, he was proclaimed presidential candidate
Chilean presidential election, 1946
A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1946 to elect the successor to Juan Antonio Ríos, who died in office in June of that year.-Popular vote:Source: -Congressional election:Source:...
by the Conservative party
Conservative Party (Chile)
The Conservative Party of Chile was one of the principal Chilean political parties since its foundation in 1836 until 1949, when it broke apart. In 1953 it reformed as the United Conservative Party and in 1966 joined with the Liberal Party to form the National Party...
, but a split of his voting base between him and Fernando Alessandri
Fernando Alessandri
Fernando Alessandri Rodríguez was a Chilean political figure, candidate of the centre-right in Chile's 1946 presidential election...
resulted in the triumph of Gabriel González Videla
Gabriel González Videla
Gabriel González Videla was a Chilean politician. He was a deputy and senator in the Chilean Congress and was President of Chile from 1946 to 1952...
, with Cruz-Coke finishing in second place.
After the end of his senatorial term in 1957, he decided not to run for reelection. In 1958 he was named Ambassador to Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, where he remained until 1960. In 1963 he was named the first president of the newly established National Committee on Atomic Energy , and in 1965 produced the first plan for the use of nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
in the mining industries of the north of Chile. He died in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, in 1974, at the age of 74.