Socialist Hungary

Socialist Hungary, officially the Hungarian People's Republic, refers to the authoritarian socialist/marxist-leninist era of Hungary's history.

Analysis

According to a report from the US Military, there massive improvements in health in Socialist Hungary. "In comparison with pre-war standards, the average citizen received far better healthcare and social assistance as a result of the government's policy." in addition "In the 1980s, the availability of physicians, nurses, and hospital beds was high by international standards. In 1986 the country had 31,154 physicians, or about one physician per 299 inhabitants (up from one physician per 909 inhabitants in 1950, one per 637 inhabitants in 1960, one per 439 inhabitants in 1970, and one per 398 inhabitants in 1974). The country had 100 hospital beds per 10,000 inhabitants (up from 55.8 beds per 10,000 inhabitants in 1950, 71.1 in 1960, and 85.5 in 1974). The country had 3,801 dentists and dental surgeons, 43,579 nurses, 57,277 other health personnel, and 4,506 pharmacists.^[1]
One poll has found the population looks at the experience with more positivity than current Hungary. "A remarkable 72% of Hungarians say that most people in their country are actually worse off today economically than they were under communism. Only 8% say most people in Hungary are better off, and 16% say things are about the same. In no other Central or Eastern European country surveyed did so many believe that economic life is worse now than during the communist era."^[2]

The health system stagnated in the 1980s and saw several major errors. To quote the US Military report on their healthcare mentioned in positives: "In the 1980s, the public engaged in much frank and apparently uncensored discussion about serious shortcomings in healthcare. Complaints concerned the aging of hospital facilities, the disrepair of their equipment, the shortages of basic medications, and the inadequate training of low-paid medical personnel. Western analysts estimated that Hungary spent 3.3 percent of its gross national product specifically on health service (the 6 percent figure listed in most statistical data actually included some social services). This percentage was the lowest of any East European country except Romania (in comparison, the United States spent 11 percent of GNP on healthcare). Critics judged the health system to be sub-standard, unreliable, and increasingly tainted by the practice of offering gratuities to medical personnel to ensure quality care. They warned that the achievements of past years were jeopardized by the current neglect. In addition, the infant mortality rate remained among the highest for industrialized countries with developed health systems.^[1]
The country had major issues with an unusually high amount of mental illnesses, suicides, alcoholism and drug abuse. This has been connected with feelings of alienation and stresses over the economy.^[1]