Bolnice u Požeškoj županiji i sustav javne zdravstvene službe 1874.-1918.
Hospitals in Požega county and public health system in 1847-1918

Summary/Abstract: The article examines changes within the system of public health in Croatia and Slavonia from the beginnings of the modern structure of the system in 1847 to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918. In paying special attention to hospitals, the author attempts to point at small but significant breakthroughs in general and in the hospitals of Pakrac, Nova Gradiška, Brod upon Sava and Požega in particular. In doing so, the author pays more attention to the administrative division of the hospital service and attempts to demonstrate how closely related the economy was to the level of medical services provided by the above-mentioned hospitals. In spite of poor medical care provided to the population globally and low hygiene standards under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, certain progress in all parts of the medical care had been made over time. New hospitals were built, old ones expanded and latest medical equipment was procured. The progress of hospital services within different administrative levels, which is herewith exemplified by the hospitals of the Požega County, has been shown because the structure of the health service alone, in author’s opinion, largely determined the work methods and the economical achievement of the hospital itself. Despite adequate legal regulations and equal orders for all, the progress still depended largely on the dedication of people on managerial or executive positions. It was exactly those people who contributed to the welfare of the hospital and consequently to the people who were treated in these hospitals. Although those people constituted the most important part of the medical service, we know very little about them. Since the Požega County had many hospitals of various types and levels, it can be viewed as an illustrative example for other regions. Of course, to support this thesis we must at least examine the hospitals in the region of the Virovitica County, to which the Osijek hospital also belonged and which was equal in size and in terms of administration with the Pakrac hospital. Only then will it become clear how advanced the Pakrac hospital was within the framework of the whole country.

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