Lithuanian health protection system in comparison with countries of Baltic Sea region

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Baltijos jūros regionas; Lietuvos sveikatos apsauga; Sveikatos apsaugos sistema, sveikatos būklės rodikliai, Baltijos jūros regionas, lyginamoji analizė; Sveikatos apsaugos sistemos; Sveikatos rodikliai; Baltic Sea Region; Health indicators; Health protection system; Lithuanian health protection; The health system, health status indicators, Baltic Sea Region, comparative assessment.

ENBased on the Lithuanian and Polish historiographic and archival material, the article discusses the relations between the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (LSSR) and the People’s Republic of Poland (PRP) in 1944-1953; it attempts to determine whether the representatives from Poland assumed any measures for the improvement of the situation of Lithuanian Poles (as well as Poles residing in other Soviet republics), what methods and forms were used and whether the situation of Poles in Lithuania was exceptional in the context of the USSR and what were the decisive factors. Lithuania and Poland maintained direct mutual relations in the beginning of the period under analysis only, when the Polish repatriation was organised at the initiative of the USSR. When the repatriation was completed (1947), any direct Polish-Lithuanian relations were limited and the cooperation took place through Moscow exclusively. Even though correspondence between Lithuanian and Polish residents was not interrupted, the Soviet security kept it under strict surveillance and control. The efforts of the representatives from Poland to help their compatriots through the consulate in Vilnius were unsuccessful. Its establishment was doomed to failure. The representatives of the Polish government used to support the issues in the interest of the LSSR Poles (e. g. return to Poland), who would discuss them with Soviet officers on the visits to the USSR. Wanda Wasilewska, a Polish communist residing in the USSR (Ukraine), assisted in solving the problems of Lithuanian Poles. Her influential position and personal acquaintance with Joseph Stalin and other high-ranking Soviet functionaries determined positive decisions.The initiatives of Polish residents were also supported by the persons serving in the party government structures at the republic level well-disposed towards Poles as a result of their origin or other reasons. The support of Polish Communists based in the USSR was also significant regarding the position of the LSSR Poles. By taking advantage of their influence and personal acquaintances, the issues in favour of the LSSR Poles (education, cultural activities) used to result in positive decisions in Moscow. The LSSR party administrative government was a mere implementer of these decisions. [From the publication]