Wyzwania i problemy działalności Towarzystwa Ochrony Ludności Żydowskiej w Polsce w kontekście leczenia gruźlicy płuc w latach 1945–1950
Challenges and problems of the activities of the Society for the Protection of Jewish Health in Poland in the context of the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1945–1950

Summary/Abstract: The Society for the Protection of the Health of the Jewish People (TOZ) was the leading organization for the medical care of the Jewish community in post-war Poland. The issues that absorbed TOZ activists in the Jewish settlements that emerged after 1945 were primarily: the provision of basic and specialized medical care, the fight against mental illness and the consequences of traumatic experiences during the war, and the fight against infectious diseases. One of the most pressing public health problems, also in the health care of the Jewish community, became the issue of treatment and prevention of pulmonary tuberculosis. Between 1945 and 1950 Poland held one of the first places in terms of deaths caused by this disease. The reasons for this were very poor housing and sanitary conditions, malnutrition and the devastation of organisms as a result of the war. Tuberculosis treatment within TOZ structures was carried out through periodic examinations at regional tuberculosis clinics and then in the form of spa treatment carried out on the basis of a referral. However, patients were referred to facilities, but the stay in them did not correspond to the generally accepted standards of therapy. There was a shortage of literally everything, and the limited possibilities of financing in relation to the enormous demand for therapy forced the occupation of sanatorium beds to be shortened and food to be set aside. Many facilities were unable to accommodate patients, some were dilapidated, there was a shortage of medicines, medical and nursing staff and support staff, and no proper recording of deaths from tuberculosis incidence was kept.

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