The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at the University of South Bohemia hosted a two-day international scientific conference entitled Health and Social Issues in History: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 October. The third event of its kind attracted around 100 experts from various academic disciplines to České Budějovice. Their research focuses on the history of healthcare, healthcare systems and administration, the history of nursing and midwifery, the history of social policy, the education of healthcare professionals (including issues related to disability), and the development of institutionalised care in both its narrower and broader contexts.
Health and social issues are among the most significant areas of both modern and earlier history. The participants therefore enjoyed a packed programme featuring 70 presentations, accompanied by discussions and valuable networking opportunities. The conference attracted numerous international experts, bringing together historians, healthcare professionals and specialists from other fields from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Israel. As a result, part of the programme was conducted in English. The international dimension of the event was further enhanced by the participation of international students from Africa and Asia, including India.
The conference opened on Thursday morning in packed Lecture Theatre E, with welcoming addresses by Prof. Valérie Tóthová, Vice-Dean for Science and Research and Director of the Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency Care; Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty; and Mgr. František Dolák, Ph.D., MBA, Vice-Dean for International Relations. Professor Tóthová welcomed the fact that the third edition of the conference had an even stronger international dimension than its predecessors and thanked the new partners who had joined the event. She pointed out that the Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency Care had been exploring these issues in their broader contexts for many years, generating valuable insights and perspectives.
"Through this research, we are becoming increasingly aware that the history of healthcare is not merely the history of institutions, regulations or prominent figures. It is also the history of healthcare professionals' everyday work, their professional status, the conditions in which they work and provide care – and, of course, we must not forget the people for whom this care is intended. Understanding these connections helps us gain a better insight not only into the past but also into the present-day organisation and delivery of healthcare," Vice-Dean Valérie Tóthová explained.
Dean Ivana Chloubová then thanked Professor Tóthová for introducing historical research topics to the Faculty and continuing to develop them. Her efforts have been so successful that they have led to the regular organisation of major conferences of this kind, which have become a project particularly close to her heart.
Following the opening plenary session, the conference programme continued in parallel thematic sessions held in other lecture theatres and classrooms, where participants explored specific topics in greater depth. Health and social issues represent an area in which the experiences of individuals and communities intersect with institutional and political frameworks, including changes in healthcare, public health, social policy, professional roles and healthcare administration. Bringing together different disciplines and methodological approaches is therefore essential, as is encouraging discussion about the possibilities and limitations of interdisciplinary research.
The conference built on two previous events held in 2022 and 2024: The History of Healthcare in the First Czechoslovak Republic from an Interdisciplinary Perspective (2022) and Czechoslovak Healthcare in Historical Perspective: An Interdisciplinary Approach (2024). The second conference also coincided with the establishment of the Centre for Research into the History of Nursing and Healthcare.
The event was organised by the Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Emergency Care at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, in cooperation with the following institutions: Prague University of Economics and Business; Department of Historical Sciences, Faculty of Arts, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen; Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Work, Trnava University in Trnava; National Archives of the Czech Republic; Institute of History of the Czech Academy of Sciences; and Institute of State and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The international conference covered an exceptionally broad range of interconnected topics, spanning the period from ancient times to the present day. These included the history of healthcare and medicine; the history of nursing and the professionalisation of care / healthcare administration, health policy, legislation and institutions (the state, local government, insurance companies and professional organisations) / public health, hygiene, prevention, epidemics and crisis management / social policy, poverty, care, welfare and health inequalities / the education of healthcare professionals and the professionalisation of care; disability, patient experiences and everyday aspects of care / the financing of health and social care, insurance, charitable organisations and the non-profit sector / centre–periphery relations, regional perspectives and urban–rural differences / minorities, migration, language and communication in health and social care / international transfers of knowledge, expertise and the role of international organisations / and methodological approaches, archival sources and the documentary foundations of interdisciplinary research into the history of healthcare and medical care.
The conference concluded on Friday afternoon, when Vice-Dean Professor Tóthová, Dean Dr Chloubová and Vice-Dean Dr Dolák thanked all the participants. "Over the two days, we have heard many fascinating insights and findings that will continue to inspire us in our work," Professor Tóthová remarked. She expressed her hope that this tradition of interdisciplinary meetings with experts at the Faculty would continue, contributing to the further strengthening and development of the field.
"These two days have given us not only a deeper understanding of history but also a vision for the future," Dean Dr Chloubová concluded, expressing her enthusiasm for further cooperation and joint research.
