Axel Höjer

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Johan Axel Höjer

Johan Axel Höjer (12 August – 22 April 1974) was a Swedish physician and public servant.

Career

Höjer was born on 12 August 1890 in Visby, Sweden, the son of Professor Nils Höjer and Emmy Höjer.[1] He began to study medicine at the Karolinska Institute in 1908 and became a Licentiate of Medicine in 1916. He went to Paris in 1919, where he became acquainted with the nurse Signe Dahl and they later married in 1920. In addition to his work and social commitment, in the early 1920s Höjer researched vitamin C and its role in connective tissue cell maturation. He submitted his thesis in Stockholm in 1924 for PhD degree as Studies in scurvy, and then became the Associate Professor of Hygiene in the Physiological Institute at Lund University.

In 1930, he was appointed as the city physician (stadsläkare) of Malmö and subsequently, in 1935, became Director General of the National Swedish Board of Health, a post he left in 1952. During his time on the Medical Board, he made several reforms in terms of preventive care, including family planning, maternal assistance and care of infants as well as dental services. Additionally during that time, the Vipeholm experiments on dental caries were conducted.

Höjer was appointed to the

Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, a position he held until 1954.[2]

After retirement, he worked on international issues, including the effects of the Vietnam War.

The Höjer Investigation

Höjer led the Board of Health study in 1948 on health care reorganization.[3] The study suggested a focus on preventive care and strengthening of provincial medical offices. The proposal was motivated in particular by the fact that the proportion of primary care physicians had declined because of the sharp increase in hospital doctors. In the study, the Medical Board argued against the Medical Association's view with regard to primary care. The report advocated a polyclinic model, where outpatient health care would be free and community-run.

The Höjer study was the first more comprehensive attempt to analyze the problems in outpatient care. It suggested the establishment of health centers of various kinds. The larger centers would include both specialists and general practitioners and would be located in hospitals. The minor ones would have two or more GPs and be located in the provincial doctors' stations. Höjer encountered considerable resistance from the medical professionals. He was exposed to virulent press campaign from colleagues calling for his resignation. As a result of complaints the commission's proposals could not be realized.

Controversies

Höjer's combination of

Sydsvenska Dagbladet and Aftonbladet, Swedish newspapers. He was dismissed from a job as a teacher in the Southern Sweden Nursing School on the grounds that he held a lecture on sexual health. As city physician (stadsläkare) in Malmö, he tried to address air pollution from the Scanian Cement factory at Limhamn
in Malmö. The company director threatened Malmö municipality, stating the company would move to another location if they followed the doctor's recommendations.

Concerning

Gustaf Adolf, with the proposal that Sweden should accept only a small number of Jewish doctors who were fleeing Hitler's persecution. "He asked me pleadingly to refrain from proposals and actions, which could put the unity of the Swedish people in danger. I answered respectfully but firmly – with the Court Marshal listening in the background – that I obviously did not want to increase the government's difficulties, but I found that the request is primarily aimed to appease the anti-Semitic circles. It would be ignominious if Sweden were to betray people in danger. The Crown Prince reiterated his warning. I declared I would keep it in mind the future, and would do it if my conscience allows. We parted without further discussion".[5]
Höjer also asked to increase the number of doctors in the country, by importing Austrian physicians in 1950, which again was opposed by the Medical Association.

Bibliography

References

  1. OCLC 185712713
    .
  2. ^ Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research. 1952.
  3. ^ "Den öppna läkarvården i riket - Utredning och förslag av Medicinalstyrelsen, SOU 1948:14". Statens Offentliga Utredningar (in Swedish). 1948. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  4. ^ "Plan på läkarimport som väcker gensagor. 10-20 tyska emigranter skulle tas in. Betänkligt projekt säger sekreteraren i Läkarförbundet". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1939-01-28. p. 4.
  5. OCLC 84328623
    .
Government offices
Preceded by
Nils Hellström
 Director General of the National Swedish Board of Health
1935–1952 		Succeeded by
Arthur Engel
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