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The Ministry of Healthcare was established on June 17, 1918 by the decree of Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic led by Fatali Khan Khoyski. The first appointed minister was Khudadat Rafibeyli, who had graduated from Kharkov University in 1903 and was the most experienced surgeon in the country at the time. The ministry consisted of five departments, including city healthcare department, healthcare statistics, therapy, rural healthcare and veterinary offices. The medical care was provided to the population free of charge while the authorities built new hospitals, laboratories, medicine warehouses and purchased medical equipment. Throughout the 23-month-long existence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, 33 hospitals operated in Azerbaijani provinces with each having 1 doctor, 2 paramedics, 1 gynecologist and one nurse conducting vaccinations. According to statistics, there was only one doctor per every 75,000 citizens. Due to the shortage, the Azerbaijani parliament included building of 35 new hospitals and 56 paramedical office in 1920 fiscal budget committing AZN 43,321,950. During the Soviet rule of Azerbaijan, new hospitals and pharmacies were built. State pharmacy and analytical laboratories was established in Baku in order to prepare medicines, bacteriological drugs, syrups and investigate medical records during the issues relating with crime. In 1960-70s, the medical sector was enhanced and new ambulance services opened for public. The ministry today operates under statute signed by President Heydar Aliyev on December 29, 1998
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