Nikolai Semashko

Nikolai Semashko was a Soviet public health expert and the first People's Commissar of Health in the USSR, serving from 1918 to 1930. He pioneered the concept of universal healthcare, emphasizing accessible, state-funded medical services for all citizens. Under his leadership, the Soviet healthcare system focused on prevention, outpatient care, and expanding medical infrastructure, aiming to improve health outcomes across the population. Semashko's approach influenced global public health strategies and laid the groundwork for comprehensive socialized medicine in the Soviet Union.