Del brazo civilizador a la Defensa nacional: Políticas Sanitarias, Atención Médica y Población Rural (Argentina, 1900-1930)

Abstract

This article discusses the creation and modification of health policy in the first three decades of the 20th century, whereas the study of the National Department of Hygiene and the Advisory Committee of regional Nursing Homes and hospitals. These public institutions, led by renowned psychiatrists and hygienists, tried to extend the actions of the State on Argentine interior population of small towns and rural areas, through sanitary and hygienic regulations. Such proposals had relative success because of bureaucratic and technical difficulties, the organizational overlapping jurisdiction and the limited funding, although medical and social interest increased on sparsely medicalized social assemblies.