Prevention first, treatment second?
The old traditional Chinese medicine doctors familiar with that era can't help but feel nostalgic when they hear these words.
Despite the harsh conditions at that time, everyone held the belief of serving the people.
Whether it was Chinese or Western medicine, the purpose of medical practice was singular: to relieve the suffering of patients. Money, although not entirely disregarded, was definitely not the primary concern.
At that time, many doctors voluntarily promoted health guides, going door to door, through streets and alleys.
Because many people were illiterate, if health promotion was inadequate, some preventable diseases went unresolved, and the public suffered needlessly due to ignorance.
Once someone became ill, doctors had to visit the patient, but medical resources were very limited then.
Thus, disease prevention became the core medical philosophy.
