Development of Pharmacy Under the Influence of Occupation Powers in Latvia (1939–1960). Summary of the Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

In the present doctoral thesis “Development of Pharmacy Under the Influence of Occupation Powers in Latvia (1939–1960)” is described variability, adaptation and development of the pharmaceutical industry during two totalitarian regimes, highlighting as an essential indicators of the situation the changes in the number of the pharmacies and pharmaceutical employees as well as the availability of medicines for the citizens. The chronological boundaries of the doctoral thesis have been chosen based on the consideration to give insight of the pre-war situation and its consequences in the post-war period, however, main attention have been focused on events from 1940 to 1945. The doctoral thesis contents the review of pharmaceutical industry in Latvia shortly before the beginning of World War II, where the influence of the authoritarian regime of Kārlis Ulmanis (1877–1942) and the emigration of the Baltic Germans are discussed in more detail. The following described the influence of the politico-economic on the pharmaceutical industry caused by the occupation forces of both the first USSR and Nazi Germany, with an emphasis on legislation, the activities of the pharmacy regulatory authorities, and the actions of those in positions of responsibility. In the work, there is compiled information from June 14, 1941, from the files of the deported residents of Latvia, and as a result gives a perception into the making of arrests, accusations as well as the future fate of the deported pharmacists, assistants and practitioners. Described the situation in the sphere of pre-war years, Latvian pharmacists going into exile and the activities of the Latvian pharmacist, doctor Hugo Skudiņš (1903–1976) in the Latvian Red Cross Organization in exile conditions in Germany, which focused on improving accessibility to medicines for residents of Latvia between 1954 and 1960.