Social contract in the sphere of healthcare for soviet citizens (1917–1940)
Research Article
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project 23-18-00093 “The fate of the social contract in Russia: the evolution of ideas and lessons of implementation”, https://rscf.ru/en/project/23-18-00093/
How to Cite
Belova N.I. Social contract in the sphere of healthcare for soviet citizens (1917–1940). Science. Culture. Society. 2025. Vol. 31. No. 2. P. 75-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2025.31.2.6 (in Russ.).
Abstract
The article considers two historical periods of time, during which significant changes were observed in the basic principles of the organization of the state health policy. The state began to form the prototype of the modern health care system in the first years of Soviet power, immediately after the October Revolution. The initial period (1917-1929) of institutional development of the public health sector is associated with the creation of a central government body - the People's Commissariat of Health, whose efforts were aimed at nationalization and centralization of health care, development of medical infrastructure, training of doctors and other medical workers, as well as the organization of health education work with the involvement of the population in its implementation. Having assumed the responsibility for providing each citizen with free and qualified medical care, the state began to implement its plans in fairly difficult socio-economic and political conditions. In a fairly short period of time, infectious diseases were virtually eliminated in the country and the level of socially significant diseases was reduced. The second historical period - pre-war (1930-1940), is characterized by large-scale reforms of Soviet health care. The tasks facing the sphere were associated with the interests and plans of the state in socialist construction. Health protection was mainly focused on the working population, medical care became as close as possible to the workplace, medical and preventive institutions were created at enterprises. During the years of the first five-year plans, the main services of Soviet health care were formed, including the protection of motherhood and childhood, the sanitary and epidemiological service, etc. The activities of the Institute of Health were assessed quite highly. The development of the public health care system became one of the priority areas of social transformation at that time.
Keywords:
public health, health of the population, health policy, health care, social contract
References
1. Polyakova O. B., Bonkalo T. I. Public Health: Digest. Moscow: NIIOZMM DZM; 2024. (In Russ.).
2. Toshchenko Zh. T. Social contract in Russian version: reality and lessons. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. “Philosophy. Sociology. Art Studies” Series. 2023;(3-2):168–183. (In Russ.). DOI DOI 10.28995/2073-6401-2023-3-168-183.
3. Zubov V. V. The Social Contract: History and Modernity. Sociopolitical Sciences. 2023;13(6):31–40. (In Russ.). DOI 10.33693/2223-0092-2023-13-6-31-40.
4. Toshchenko Zh. T. Social contract: evolution of ideas. Rossiya reformiruyushchayasya. 2023;(21): 98–121. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/ezheg.2023.4.
5. Zaitseva A. A. The state and prospects of the social contract in Russia: expert assessment. Social processes in modern Russian society: signs and development trends: Proceedings of the IX All-Russian scientific conference (Irkutsk, April 18-19, 2025. Irkutsk: Irkutsk State University; 2025. (In Russ.).
6. Vorobyova I. V. The theory of the social compact and its reflection in the public and political space of Russia. Science. Culture. Society. 2025;31(1):26–35. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/nko.2025.31.1.2.
7. Bulanova M. B. Social potential of Russian teachers and problems of its realisation. Science. Culture. Society. 2025;31(1):50–58. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/nko.2025.31.1.4.
8. Belova N. I. Public health protection in the first years of Soviet power. Social contract: forms of participation of the intelligentsia in its implementation in Russia: col. of scient. art. of the XXV International Theoretical and Methodological Conference (Moscow, April 09, 2024). Moscow: RSUH; 2024. P. 209–218. (In Russ.).
9. Perkhov V. I., Pesennikova E. V. Commercialization of public health care and “new social contract”. Current problems of health care and medical statistics. 2021;(1):208–221. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24411/2312-2935-2021-00013.
10. Zikunova I. V. Pandemic Shock: Methodological Explanation and New Public Contract. Power and Administration in the East of Russia. 2021;(3):45–52. (In Russ.). DOI 10.22394/1818-4049-2021-96-3-45-52.
11. Khrychikova A. S., Smelova S. V. Legal aspects of social protection of public health in the Russian Federation. Obrazovanie. Nauka. Nauchnye kadry. 2024;(2):82–85. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24412/2073-3305-2024-2-82-85.
12. Levashov V. K., Velikaya N. M., Shushpanova I. S. [et al.] How are you, Russia? Express information 54th stage of the sociological monitoring, April 2024 Moscow: FCTAS RAS; 2024. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/monogr.978-5-89697-429-1.2024.
13. Miterev G. A. Public Health in 25 Years of Soviet Power. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1942;(11-12):1–10. (In Russ.).
14. Krutikov V. A., Mikhailov N. G. Contribution of A.N. Sysin in the creation of theoretical and practical foundations of sanitary affairs in the USSR. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1974;(9):45–48. (In Russ.).
15. Semashko N. A. The First Steps of the People's Commissariat of Health. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1948;(8):3–7. (In Russ.).
16. Grigoriev K. I., Khan M. A., Petryaikina E. E., Vykhrystyuk O. F. Health resort treatment: role in promoting health and preventing childhood diseases in Russia. Lechebnoe delo. 2024;(3):119–128. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24412/2071-5315-2024-13179.
17. Propper-Grashchenkov N. I. 20 years of Soviet health care. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1938;(7-8):7–15. (In Russ.).
18. Vladimirsky M. F. The next tasks of health care. Moscow: Gosmedizdat; 1930. (In Russ.).
19. Stalin I. V. Political report of the Central Committee to the XVI Congress of the VKP(B), June 27, 1930. Moscow: Politizdat; 1950. (In Russ.).
20. Kraval I. A. (ed.) Health and healthcare of workers of the USSR: Statistical digest. Moscow: Red.-izd. upr. TsUNKhU Gosplana SSSR i V/O «Soyuzorguchet»; 1936. (In Russ.).
21. Zatravkin S. N., Vishlenkova E. A., Sherstneva E. V. “A Radical Turn”: The Reform of the Soviet System of Public Healthcare. Quaestio Rossica. 2020;8(2):652–666. (In Russ.). DOI 10.15826/qr.2020.2.486.
22. Kvasha E. A. Infant mortality in XX century Russia. Sociological Studies. 2003;(6):47–55. (In Russ.).
23. Nefedov S. A. Agrarian and demographic results of Stalin's collectivization. Tambov: TGU im. G.R. Derzhavina; 2013. (In Russ.).
24. Esaulenko I. E., Markova S. V. From history of correspondence training of physicians. Problems of Social Hygiene, Public Health and History of Medicine. 2017;25(3):190–192. (In Russ.). DOI 10.18821/0869-866X-2017-25-3-190-192.
2. Toshchenko Zh. T. Social contract in Russian version: reality and lessons. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin. “Philosophy. Sociology. Art Studies” Series. 2023;(3-2):168–183. (In Russ.). DOI DOI 10.28995/2073-6401-2023-3-168-183.
3. Zubov V. V. The Social Contract: History and Modernity. Sociopolitical Sciences. 2023;13(6):31–40. (In Russ.). DOI 10.33693/2223-0092-2023-13-6-31-40.
4. Toshchenko Zh. T. Social contract: evolution of ideas. Rossiya reformiruyushchayasya. 2023;(21): 98–121. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/ezheg.2023.4.
5. Zaitseva A. A. The state and prospects of the social contract in Russia: expert assessment. Social processes in modern Russian society: signs and development trends: Proceedings of the IX All-Russian scientific conference (Irkutsk, April 18-19, 2025. Irkutsk: Irkutsk State University; 2025. (In Russ.).
6. Vorobyova I. V. The theory of the social compact and its reflection in the public and political space of Russia. Science. Culture. Society. 2025;31(1):26–35. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/nko.2025.31.1.2.
7. Bulanova M. B. Social potential of Russian teachers and problems of its realisation. Science. Culture. Society. 2025;31(1):50–58. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/nko.2025.31.1.4.
8. Belova N. I. Public health protection in the first years of Soviet power. Social contract: forms of participation of the intelligentsia in its implementation in Russia: col. of scient. art. of the XXV International Theoretical and Methodological Conference (Moscow, April 09, 2024). Moscow: RSUH; 2024. P. 209–218. (In Russ.).
9. Perkhov V. I., Pesennikova E. V. Commercialization of public health care and “new social contract”. Current problems of health care and medical statistics. 2021;(1):208–221. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24411/2312-2935-2021-00013.
10. Zikunova I. V. Pandemic Shock: Methodological Explanation and New Public Contract. Power and Administration in the East of Russia. 2021;(3):45–52. (In Russ.). DOI 10.22394/1818-4049-2021-96-3-45-52.
11. Khrychikova A. S., Smelova S. V. Legal aspects of social protection of public health in the Russian Federation. Obrazovanie. Nauka. Nauchnye kadry. 2024;(2):82–85. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24412/2073-3305-2024-2-82-85.
12. Levashov V. K., Velikaya N. M., Shushpanova I. S. [et al.] How are you, Russia? Express information 54th stage of the sociological monitoring, April 2024 Moscow: FCTAS RAS; 2024. (In Russ.). DOI 10.19181/monogr.978-5-89697-429-1.2024.
13. Miterev G. A. Public Health in 25 Years of Soviet Power. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1942;(11-12):1–10. (In Russ.).
14. Krutikov V. A., Mikhailov N. G. Contribution of A.N. Sysin in the creation of theoretical and practical foundations of sanitary affairs in the USSR. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1974;(9):45–48. (In Russ.).
15. Semashko N. A. The First Steps of the People's Commissariat of Health. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1948;(8):3–7. (In Russ.).
16. Grigoriev K. I., Khan M. A., Petryaikina E. E., Vykhrystyuk O. F. Health resort treatment: role in promoting health and preventing childhood diseases in Russia. Lechebnoe delo. 2024;(3):119–128. (In Russ.). DOI 10.24412/2071-5315-2024-13179.
17. Propper-Grashchenkov N. I. 20 years of Soviet health care. Hygiene and Sanitation. 1938;(7-8):7–15. (In Russ.).
18. Vladimirsky M. F. The next tasks of health care. Moscow: Gosmedizdat; 1930. (In Russ.).
19. Stalin I. V. Political report of the Central Committee to the XVI Congress of the VKP(B), June 27, 1930. Moscow: Politizdat; 1950. (In Russ.).
20. Kraval I. A. (ed.) Health and healthcare of workers of the USSR: Statistical digest. Moscow: Red.-izd. upr. TsUNKhU Gosplana SSSR i V/O «Soyuzorguchet»; 1936. (In Russ.).
21. Zatravkin S. N., Vishlenkova E. A., Sherstneva E. V. “A Radical Turn”: The Reform of the Soviet System of Public Healthcare. Quaestio Rossica. 2020;8(2):652–666. (In Russ.). DOI 10.15826/qr.2020.2.486.
22. Kvasha E. A. Infant mortality in XX century Russia. Sociological Studies. 2003;(6):47–55. (In Russ.).
23. Nefedov S. A. Agrarian and demographic results of Stalin's collectivization. Tambov: TGU im. G.R. Derzhavina; 2013. (In Russ.).
24. Esaulenko I. E., Markova S. V. From history of correspondence training of physicians. Problems of Social Hygiene, Public Health and History of Medicine. 2017;25(3):190–192. (In Russ.). DOI 10.18821/0869-866X-2017-25-3-190-192.
Article
Received: 12.04.2025
Accepted: 30.06.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Belova, N. I. (2025). Social contract in the sphere of healthcare for soviet citizens (1917–1940). Science. Culture. Society, 31(2), 75-86. https://doi.org/10.19181/nko.2025.31.2.6
Section
Social contract in the context of historical sociology
1.jpg)
