The practice of modern medicine

Ñòðàíèöà: 17/21

Former Soviet Union. In the aftermath of the dissolu­tion of the Soviet Union, responsibility for public health fell to the governments of the successor countries.

The public health services for the U.S.S.R. as a whole were directed by the Ministry of Health. The ministry, through the 15 union republic ministries of health, di­rected all medical institutions within its competence as well as the public health authorities; and services through­out the country.

The administration was centralized, with little local au­tonomy. Each of the 15 republics had its own ministry of health, which was responsible for carrying out the plans and decisions established by the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Health. Each republic was divided into oblasti, or provinces, which had departments of health directly re­sponsible to the republic ministry of health. Each oblast, in turn, had rayony (municipalities), which have their own health departments accountable to the oblast health de­partment. Finally, each rayon was subdivided into smaller uchastoki (districts).

In most rural rayony the responsibility for public health lay with the chief physician, who was also medical director of the central rayon hospital. This system ensured unity of public health administration and implementation of the principle of planned development. Other health personnel included nurses, feldshers, and midwives.

For more information on the history, organization, and progress of public health, see below.

Military practice. The medical services of armies, navies, and air forces are geared to war. During campaigns the first requirement is the prevention of sickness. In all wars before the 20th century, many more combatants died of disease than of wounds. And even in World War II and wars thereafter, although few died of disease, vast numbers became casualties from disease.

The main means of preventing sickness are the provi­sion of adequate food and pure water, thus eliminating starvation, avitaminosis, and dysentery and other bowel infections, which used to be particular scourges of armies; the provision of proper clothing and other means of pro­tection from the weather; the elimination from the service of those likely to fall sick: the use of vaccination and suppressive drugs to prevent various infections, such as typhoid and malaria; and education in hygiene and in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, a particular problem in the services. In addition, the maintenance of high morale has a sinking effect on casualty rates, for, when morale is poor, soldiers are likely to suffer psychi­atric breakdowns, and malingering is more prevalent.

The medical branch may provide advice about disease prevention, but the actual execution of this advice is through the ordinary chains of command. It is the duty of the military, not of the medical, officer to ensure that the troops obey orders not to drink infected water and to take tablets to suppress malaria.

Army medical organisation. The medical doctor of first contact to the soldier in the armies of developed countries is usually an officer in the medical corps. In ðåàãåíòå the doctor sees the sick and has functions similar to those of the general practitioner, prescribing drugs and dressings and there may be a sick bay where slightly sick soldiers can remain for a few days. The doctor is usually assisted by trained nurses and corpsmen. If a further medical opinion is required, the patient can be referred to a specialist at a military or civilian hospital.

In a war zone, medical officers have an aid post where, with the help of corpsmen, they apply first aid to the walking wounded and to the more seriously wounded who are brought in. The casualties are evacuated as quickly as possible by field ambulances or helicopters. At a com­pany station, medical officers and medical corpsmen may provide further treatment before patients are evacuated to the main dressing station at the field ambulance head­quarters, where a surgeon may perform emergency oper­ations. Thereafter, evacuation may be to casualty clearing stations, to advanced hospitals, or to base hospitals. Air evacuation is widely used.

Ðåôåðàò îïóáëèêîâàí: 11/11/2009