Look, every occupational group has both genuine experts and pompous asses wrapping themselves in the aura of conventional respectablity. The medical profession is no different. Therefore arguments against that profession based on the claim that some doctors are a bunch of pompous asses are hogwash, unless it can be demonstrated that doctors are more likely to be pompous assess than other professionals.
As far as public health is concerned - yes indeed it was responsible for controlling many diseases that used to decimate populations, but what makes you think it is NOT a part of western medical science? Did it not grew out of empirical research on causes of the said diseases on which "western" medicine is based?
It is one thing to critize a certain approach to medicine (popular mainly in the US) that favors costly and oft exotic treatment of illness or symptoms over inexpensive prevention and healthy diet. But it is a quite different thing to dismiss "western medicine" altogether in favor of witchcraft and quackery (often even more expensive than standard medical treatment), as it is becoming popular in newage circles. What may be fashionable for aging hippies in the US or the UK, may be quite offensive for people living in countries whose one-fourth of the population is infected with AIDS, not to mention malaria, and other treatable diseases.
PS. Whatever other faults of Soviet-style "state socialism" (as well as Western-European "welfare states") - they had at least one undeniable benefit - introduction of "western" medicine to peoples who could not previously afford it.
wojtek