Joseph recalled the Barefoot Doctor system of later generations and continued:
"These assistant doctors farmed in ordinary times, and when someone in the village fell ill, they went to his home to treat him.
"The assistant doctors would be managed uniformly by the government. The government would subsidize each assistant doctor eight francs a month, and the village would subsidize him five francs. I think there should be quite a few people willing to do this work."
In the French countryside, earning an extra thirteen francs a month was absolutely tempting. After all, an adult male farmer's income was only a little over twenty francs a month.
"As for medical instruments and medicines, they would all be issued by the government at regular intervals. The assistant doctors would only be responsible for keeping them."
At present, France had more than thirty-six thousand villages and towns. Adding the cities, it would need around forty thousand assistant doctors. In other words, with an annual subsidy of 3.8 million francs from the French treasury, they could prop up a simple universal medical system.
That sum looked quite large, but the reduction in deaths among the laboring population by the medical system alone would be enough to earn it back several times over.
Joseph thought for a moment, then said, "So many matters need a specialized department to manage them. Mm, add a 'Medical and Health Bureau' under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, responsible for all matters involving medicine and pharmaceuticals."
Perna immediately responded excitedly, "Your Highness, then we should have each village and town select suitable assistant doctors as quickly as possible and send them to the nearest city for training."
Joseph smiled and shook his head. "The assistant doctors still have to farm. If you make them leave their villages, they'll definitely