The rise of professional obstetric and paediatric care in the pre-revolutionary Transbaikal region

The government’s incorporation of the vast territory of the Transbaikal region did not initially involve broad socio-economic development of this region. Gradually, it became clearly understood that for the successful development of the economically advantageous territory it was necessary to solve a number of issues related to the organization of public health care, in particular for women and children. Military and economic measures alone would not ensure the social wellbeing of both the indigenous population and Transbaikal’s new arrivals. The indigenous population,s traditional way of life, the confessional differences between those living in the territory and the severe climatic and geographic conditions slowed the spread of public medicine in this region. The constant shortage of qualified medical personnel, the small number of medical institutions and serious financial difficulties exacerbated the difficult situation. The first measures taken in the social policy field concerned