The Difficult Way of the Revival of Perm Medicine (1919-1923)

The article is devoted to the most difficult period in the history of Perm medicine, associated with the recovery after the devastating civil war. It turned out to be the least studied in the historical discourse, although it was filled with tragic events: the destruction of urban infrastructure, including in the field of healthcare, the practical absence of medical personnel, the catastrophic epidemic situation in the city and countryside. Returning the situation to normal was complicated by the food and fuel crisis. And in 1921, the famous famine began in the Volga region, which also captured a number of districts of the Perm province and had a great impact on the state of medical care. Based on archival sources that have not previously been introduced into scientific circulation, newspaper materials, and publications of that time, a description is given of the activities of doctors and paramedics in overcoming enormous difficulties in providing a minimum level of medical care to the population. The role of the Soviet and party leadership of the Perm province, provincial and district health departments in overcoming the most acute organizational and personnel problems in this area is revealed. Attention is drawn to the difficulties and unresolved problems in the fight against mass epidemic diseases and the dedicated work of medical personnel in these difficult historical conditions. Of undoubted interest is the initial period of formation of the pediatric service system in the province, the contribution of scientists and practitioners in providing medical care to newborns, young mothers and infants. The role and significance of the Faculty of Medicine of Perm University in the training of medical personnel, the work of teachers and students in practical healthcare is analyzed. A special place is given to the analysis of the state of medical care in the initial period of the NEP. The main directions of implementation of these principles in the field of health care, their contradictory nature and the difficulties of their implementation on the territory of the Perm province until the end of 1923, when the zoning of the Urals took place, led to the liquidation of this territorial entity.