Medical Organization – Origin and Function

In the beginning, hospitals originated not for the purpose of providing only medical care. Their major aim was not to provide medical care but to serve a religious purpose.2 Only as religious centers, the hospitals originated. Medical care was used as a tool to serve the religious purpose. As a result, by the end of the 15th century, an extensive network of hospitals existed throughout Western Europe. During the Renaissance period, the religious character of the hospital began to disappear. The secular control of hospitals brought about a decline in the hospital system. The hospitals turned out to be poor houses. The physical conditions of the hospitals were dirty, insanitary, poorly ventilated and crowded. So the death was high in the poor houses. In the second half of the 19th century, there was a marked improvement in the image of the hospitals. The Invention of Stethoscope, Introduction of Anesthetic work, Discovery of staphylococcus, Development of x-ray enabled physicians to provide effective and reliable service to the sick. Now the hospitals are well equipped and they use advanced technology to provide medical care of the patients. The entire health care delivery system is now under the monopolistic control of the hospitals.