The Mongol's developed their system of medicine according to their own culture and beliefs. Mongolian traditional medicine and health care is directly connected with nomadic way of life and it the precious cultural heritage of Mongol Nations and is one of the biggest scientific branches that safeguarded people's health by enriching and developing the traditional medicine theory, diagnosis and treatment for many years. The establishment and development of a healthcare system in Mongolia (that is based on Western medicine) is divided into three main phases. Modern healthcare system was introduced in the People's Republic of Mongolia for free of charge. First hospital had only 15 beds but by 1940, there were 12 national medical doctors, more than 300 hundred nurses and 37 hospitals. Between 1941 and 1990, the socialist healthcare system was systematically developed in Mongolia. As an outcome of the step by step state policy that was implemented, Mongolia had a nationwide coverage of general healthcare services provided by medical doctors at all levels in that period. After 1990, the healthcare system was in transition from a socialist to a market-oriented economy. Currently, there are approximately 1.500 facilities in operation nationwide in the health sector, of which 15 are tertiary-level hospitals.