The alternative theory is that modern medicine was born around the time of World War II. That was the time when the pharmaceutical industry really took off and, for the first time in human history, permitted physicians to treat disease.

Before that, with the notable exception of surgery, they could only give a prognosis and hope for the best. Now they can prescribe pills that do work. There was a reason that Hitler promoted homoeopathy and all sorts of natural healing stuff - he could claim his Germanic naturopaths did not perform worse than the (traditionally Jewish) medical faculties of the time. [1]

[1] Before anyone throws about accusations of antisemitism - this is the thesis that Viktor Klemperer makes in this "Lingua Tertii Imperii". It's recommended reading about the insanity of Nazi Germany.