The ten principles of Andrija Štampar: past and present

Abstract

Andrija Štampar was not only a physician, but also an ideologue of public health whose influence extended beyond the borders of his country. As president of the first World Health Assembly and a key figure in the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as a pioneer in the development of public health worldwide, Štampar promoted health as a fundamental human right and a social responsibility. His doctrine was grounded in the belief that community health can be improved exclusively through socio-medical measures and public education. The starting point of this paper is a comparison between the historical context of the first half of the 20^th century—marked by agrarian crisis, infectious diseases, and low levels of public health awareness—and the contemporary challenges of the global, and primarily Croatian, healthcare system in the 21^st century. Štampar’s vision of health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease, laid the foundation for a public health doctrine that remains declaratively present in national strategies today. However, its practical implementation faces challenges such as commercialisation, depersonalisation, and technocracy in medicine. This paper analyses his ten principles by comparing the historical context of the interwar period with the challenges of the contemporary healthcare system in the 21^st century. Although Štampar’s principles emerged in specific historical circumstances, their universality is unquestionable, and they remain permanently relevant as a corrective mechanism for the modern system. Integrating Štampar’s doctrine into contemporary strategic frameworks is the only way to achieve a sustainable, equitable, and effective healthcare system, requiring the humanisation of medicine and a strong state that protects public health from commercialisation. The state must take an active role in safeguarding public healthcare from commercialisation, thereby protecting the most vulnerable members of society, which ultimately represents the fundamental purpose of the modern welfare state.