Organization of medical care in towns of Transbaikal in the second half of the 19- the beginning of the 20century

The article is devoted to the topical issue of medical care organization in Transbaikalian th th towns in the second half of the 19- the beginning of the 20century. Having defined the level of medicine development by the middle of the century as unsatisfactory, we outline several factors of negative attitude of the population in the region towards medical care: the use of conventional treatments, the shortage of medical personnel at all levels, a lack of facilities and resources at medical institutions. Reconstructing the process of medical care organization during the mentioned period, we note its forward development, expressed in the gradual overcoming of the mistrust of townspeople towards professional medicine. Public trust increased with the improvement of urban skills and adoption of elementary health habits, especially by schoolchildren. Such factors as the increasing municipal support for hospitals and pharmacies, growth in the number of medical institutions and medical personnel, gradual medical specialization, and implementation of new service technologies has played not the least role in this process.