Conversation with Fu Lianzhang[1]

(February 1933)

This hospital is our first hospital, and you will serve as its director. The hospital’s tasks are very heavy. To be a good director, you must first hold one guiding principle: serve the sick and wounded. In addition to treating members of the Red Army, this hospital must also treat the common people.

Prevention and treatment of diseases should be carried out in combination; we must educate everyone to pay attention to hygiene.

[1] Mao Zedong once proposed to Fu Lianzhang, director of the Gospel Hospital who sympathized with the revolution and pursued progress, that the hospital be reorganized into the Central Red Hospital and moved to Ruijin. Fu Lianzhang gladly agreed. Shortly after Mao ended his convalescence and returned to Ruijin, he sent people to Changting to move the hospital and Fu Lianzhang’s entire family to Ruijin. This is part of Mao Zedong’s conversation with Fu Lianzhang when he visited him.