Dr. Ivo Pirc (1891-1967) and development of public health in Slovenia (1923-1941)

Abstract

A physician and humanist Dr Ivo Pirc (1891-1967), socially sensitive and organizationally capable leader of the newly formed Hygiene Institute in Ljubljana, firmly stood for the development of the Slovenian public health between the two world wars (1919-1941). As an idealist with a belief in humanism he got engaged in the process of socialization of medicine and he promoted public health among the Slovenian people according to Stampar´s model. In 1923 the Hygiene Institute was founded in Ljubljana, and until the Second World War were formed over 20 health centers and associated dispensaries (antituberculotic, antisyphilitic and in Prekmurje antititrahomic) in Dravska banovina. The Hygiene Institute had the following specialized departments: bacteriological and epidemiological, social-medical, chemical, sanitary-technicaland laboratories. In Ljubljana, the School Clinic was founded, which organized holiday camps and milk kitchens, school medicine for preventive work with school children, Institute for the Protection of Mothers and Children and the School for Protective Nurses. Most health centers had general dispensaries, children's dispensaries, school clinic, counseling facilities for mothers and children. The work done by Ivo Pirc set a firm foundation for modern Slovenian public health and he became its founder.