Ministry of Health (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Health of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) , formed on 15 March 1946, was one of the most important government offices in the Soviet Union. It was formerly (until 1946) known as the People's Commissariat for Health . The Ministry, at the all-Union level, was established on 6 July 1923, after the signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR
, and was, in turn, based upon the People's Commissariat for Health of the RSFSR formed in 1917. The Ministry was led by the Minister of Health, prior to 1946 a Commissar, who was nominated by the Chairman
of the Council of Ministers and confirmed by the Presidium
of the Supreme Soviet
, and was a member of the Council of Ministers.
. According to the July 1936 decree establishing the People's Commissariat for Health, the commissariat had control over all financial assets related to, or linked, to health care
. As such, the Ministry controlled all financial functions regarding health. It coordinated medical personnel all over the country, but also local council deputies. MOH was obliged to take active measures against deficiencies in the health care system, and to further develop and implement measures to improve it.
The MOH, with the help of other ministries and Soviet institutions, was responsible for the construction of new medical institutions around the country. Maintenance of hospital and other medical institutions were carried out by the MOH and the State Committee for Construction. According to the Regulations on the Ministry of Health of the USSR, MOH was responsible for maintenance and the construction of public health care services, and organising and conducting forensic medical and forensic psychiatric examination and establishing public pharmaceutical services. It was also main assigned to develop and publish guidelines on organising and improving curative and preventive care, maternal and child health and to oversee the formulation of therapeutic and preventive work in health care.
The competence of the MOH within the jurisdiction
of the USSR was periodically reviewed by the Council of Ministers.
s and district health departments. The union ministries, along with the oblasts and the district health departments, were in control of the public hospital
s and medicine
in their area.
by the Central Executive Committee
and the Council of People's Commissars established the People's Commissariat for Health. Grigory Kaminsky
, having served as People's Commissar for Health of the RSFSR, became the first commissar of the all-union commissariat for health. Kaminsky was arrested in 1938 after his speech in 1937 which denounced the ongoing stalinist repression in the country (Great Purge
). In a very short period of time since the formation of the commissariat, the diseases and viruses which had for a long-time been a major problem had been eliminated. In 1946, the People's Commissariat for Health was renamed Ministry of Health.
Treaty on the Creation of the USSR
The Treaty on the Creation of the USSR is a document that legalized the creation of a union of several Soviet republics in the form of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics...
, and was, in turn, based upon the People's Commissariat for Health of the RSFSR formed in 1917. The Ministry was led by the Minister of Health, prior to 1946 a Commissar, who was nominated by the Chairman
Premier of the Soviet Union
The office of Premier of the Soviet Union was synonymous with head of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics . Twelve individuals have been premier...
of the Council of Ministers and confirmed by the Presidium
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was a Soviet governmental institution – a permanent body of the Supreme Soviets . This body was of the all-Union level , as well as in all Soviet republics and autonomous republics...
of the Supreme Soviet
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was the Supreme Soviet in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments...
, and was a member of the Council of Ministers.
Duties and responsibilities
The main duties of the ministry was to develop and to prepare these for legislation and to maintain a decent level of health organisation in the USSR. The ministry missariat monitored and supervised the application of standards and measures to improve Soviet health careHealth care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
. According to the July 1936 decree establishing the People's Commissariat for Health, the commissariat had control over all financial assets related to, or linked, to health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
. As such, the Ministry controlled all financial functions regarding health. It coordinated medical personnel all over the country, but also local council deputies. MOH was obliged to take active measures against deficiencies in the health care system, and to further develop and implement measures to improve it.
The MOH, with the help of other ministries and Soviet institutions, was responsible for the construction of new medical institutions around the country. Maintenance of hospital and other medical institutions were carried out by the MOH and the State Committee for Construction. According to the Regulations on the Ministry of Health of the USSR, MOH was responsible for maintenance and the construction of public health care services, and organising and conducting forensic medical and forensic psychiatric examination and establishing public pharmaceutical services. It was also main assigned to develop and publish guidelines on organising and improving curative and preventive care, maternal and child health and to oversee the formulation of therapeutic and preventive work in health care.
The competence of the MOH within the jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
of the USSR was periodically reviewed by the Council of Ministers.
Organisation
The Ministry of Health was a all-union ministry which ment that the ministry controlled the fifteen ministries of health of the union republics. The union health ministries, in turn, were in charge of the autonomous oblastAutonomous oblast
An autonomous oblast is an autonomous entity within the state which is on the oblast level of the overall administrative subdivision. It may refer to:*Autonomous oblasts of the Soviet Union*Autonomous oblasts of Russia...
s and district health departments. The union ministries, along with the oblasts and the district health departments, were in control of the public hospital
Public hospital
A public hospital or government hospital is a hospital which is owned by a government and receives government funding. This type of hospital provides medical care free of charge, the cost of which is covered by the funding the hospital receives....
s and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
in their area.
History
A July 1936 decreeDecree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
by the Central Executive Committee
Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union
The Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union was the highest governing body in the Soviet Union in the interim of the sessions of the Congress of Soviets, existed from 1922 until 1938, when it was replaced by the Supreme Soviet of first convocation....
and the Council of People's Commissars established the People's Commissariat for Health. Grigory Kaminsky
Grigory Kaminsky
Grigory Naumovich Kaminsky , was the 2nd First Secretary of Azerbaijan Communist Party, Soviet politician and one of founders of health care system in Soviet Union.-Early life:...
, having served as People's Commissar for Health of the RSFSR, became the first commissar of the all-union commissariat for health. Kaminsky was arrested in 1938 after his speech in 1937 which denounced the ongoing stalinist repression in the country (Great Purge
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
). In a very short period of time since the formation of the commissariat, the diseases and viruses which had for a long-time been a major problem had been eliminated. In 1946, the People's Commissariat for Health was renamed Ministry of Health.
Commissars and ministers
The following persons headed the Commissariat/Ministry as commissars (narkoms), ministers, and deputy ministers of the Soviet time:| Name | Took office | Left office | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| People's Commissar for Health of the USSR | |||
| Minister of Health of the USSR | |||
See also
- Government of the Soviet UnionGovernment of the Soviet UnionThe Council of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was the de jure government comprising the highest executive and administrative body of the Soviet Union from 1946 until 1991....
(Council of Ministers) – MinistriesMinistries of the Soviet Union-Ministries:- Other agencies under the Cabinet of Ministers :-See also:* Council of People's Commissars, head of government from 1917-1946* Council of Ministers, head of government from 1946-1991* Cabinet of Ministers, head of government in 1991...
- Ministry of Medical Industry