[Development of public health service with special reference to health monitoring of the drinking water supply in East Germany since 1945, with examples from the Gera district].

Government-controlled Hygienic Inspection was a part of Public Health in the German Democratic Republic that developed into a uniformly all-embracing, active, controlling and executive public instrument also in the field of hygienic control and monitoring of drinking water supply. The article describes the pros and cons of centralistic principles, especially with regard to controlling government-run enterprises and institutions by government-conducted control organisations. The problems involved in ensuring that the drinking water supply is always safe for the benefit of all citizens, are explained.