[The district practitioner (1836-1984)].

Abstract

In 1836, a system of district physicians was established in Norway. In addition to providing individual medical services, the district physicians supervised other health care providers and looked after vulnerable groups of patients. They were also chairmen of the local boards of health, and were supposed to engage in anything that might improve local health conditions. The first district physicians were given responsibility for enormous areas, and would rarely get in close contact with the people in their districts. When the districts were divided into smaller units, they came closer to the local people, but they had to struggle hard for recognition. Over the years, however, they succeeded by means of health information and increasingly effective medical remedies. In the late 1950s, local health services were in a deep crisis, but towards the end of the 1960s new and radical political trends initiated a revitalisation. Primary health care became increasingly popular among young doctors, and a large number of new positions were established. However, in 1984, at the height of this boom, the government chose to close down the district physician service.