# Therapies crossing borders in European state socialism, 1950-1990. Introduction to the special issue

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a special issue on healthcare and therapies in state socialist Europe from 1950 to 1990.

## Contribution

The paper provides a contextual overview and highlights the unique case studies from Bulgaria and the GDR.

## Key findings

- The special issue includes case studies from Bulgaria and the GDR.
- The introduction situates the articles within broader scholarly discussions.
- The issue aims to contribute new perspectives to historical healthcare research.

## Abstract

The article introduces the special issue by mapping the field of pertinent scholarship and situating the articles with regard to the special angles and contributions they have to offer. As our five articles present case studies from Bulgaria and the GDR, both state socialist countries and their health care systems are portrayed here to provide context. The introduction locates each of the contributions and the overarching aims of the special issue within current scholarly discussions and demonstrates the issue’s innovative potential.