Due to its proximity to the Ottoman Empire, Slavonia was constantly exposed to the threat of invasion by numerous infectious and non-infectious diseases. An additional aggravating circumstance was the poor living and hygienic conditions in Slavonia, poverty, droughts, and floods. After the withdrawal of the Ottomans at the end of the 17th century, medical care was provided only by a few barbers and ‘ranarniks’ (i.e., feldshers) who remained in the Slavonian province. Due to the poor medical care, in 1770, the Empress and Queen Maria Theresa issued the General Health Law, which applied to the entire Habsburg Monarchy, including Slavonia. Among other things, it provided for the introduction of formal training for health personnel, ultimately leading to a better quality medical workforce. At the same time, charlatans were increasingly prohibited from working. The shortage of trained physicians, dentists, midwives, pharmacists, and veterinarians was addressed through various measures to promote their education and training. After obtaining their diplomas, these professionals were employed in hospitals, old people’s homes, nursing homes, homes for people with disabilities, and other healthcare institutions where the inhabitants of the Slavonian province received medical care.
Zbog neposredne blizine s Osmanskim Carstvom, u Slavoniji je postojala stalna opasnost od ulaska brojnih zaraznih i nezaraznih bolesti. Dodatna su otegotna okolnost bili loši životni i higijenski uvjeti, siromaštvo, suše i poplave. Odlaskom Osmanlija krajem 17. stoljeća zdravstvenu skrb pružala je tek nekolicina brijača i ranarnika, koji su ostali živjeti u slavonskom Provincijalu. Zbog loše zdravstvene zaštite, carica i kraljica Marija Terezija 1770. donosi Opći zdravstveni zakon koji se primjenjivao na području cijele Habsburške Monarhije, uključujući i Slavoniju. Među ostalim, njime je predviđeno uvođenje formalnog obrazovanja za zdravstvene radnike, što je u konačnici rezultiralo stvaranjem kvalitetnijega medicinskog kadra. Usporedno s tim, šarlatanima se sve češće izricala zabrana rada. Nedostatak obrazovanih liječnika, stomatologa, primalja, ljekarnika i veterinara pokušalo se riješiti različitim mjerama kojima se poticalo njihovo školovanje i usavršavanje. Nakon stjecanja diplome ti su stručnjaci bili raspoređeni u bolnice, domove za starije i nemoćne osobe, domove za invalide i u druge zdravstvene ustanove u kojima se stanovnicima slavonskog Provincijala pružala zdravstvena skrb.
Keywords: Slavonia; health care; 19th century; health professionals; health care institution.