public health

public health

The Importance of Public Health

1. Introduction

Public health activities can be divided into two major categories: the assessment and monitoring on the one hand, and the development of interventions to promote the health of a population on the other. With these aims, the diseases and problems of the people are analyzed and compared to other populations. The actual needs of the people and the possible solutions are then worked out. The second category aims to protect and promote the health of the population. This can be done by tackling the various factors that pose a risk to the health of the people. Some of these have been mentioned below.

People have now understood the concept of public health, which is to prevent diseases and promote the health of the people. There are various global organizations like UNICEF and WHO that are taking care of these diseases. Nowadays, there is a large increase in the economic imbalances between different regions and populations in the world. Globalization, although it has uplifted the financial condition of a nation, can have severe and undesirable effects on the health of the people in these nations. It has helped in the easier transfer of technology and has increased the awareness of the people across the world. The issue here is to protect and promote the health of the societies, especially those that are vulnerable, worldwide. This has to be done taking into consideration the local traditions and the welfare resources.

Public health has been defined as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.” It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. The population in question can be as small as a handful of people, or as large as all the inhabitants of several continents (for instance, in the case of a pandemic). Public health is a field that is gaining importance day by day. Previously, it was the concern of the government or the people of that country to take care of their people, but now the trend has changed.

2. Understanding Public Health

The thought that large groups of people need to have their health needs met through a defined organized effort is a relatively new concept in the scope of history. Prior to the 20th century, public health was only practiced through public sanitation and an organized effort to prevent communicable diseases. It was only in the second half of the 20th century that the concept of public health expanded into what is now known as “New Public Health.” With increased knowledge of causation and modes of prevention, public health changed the focus from preventing diseases through sanitary environments to preventing diseases through analysis of cause and developing modes of prevention to be practiced on a large scale. This new goal is not limited to communicable diseases and often involves a shift in thinking similar to what is practiced in clinical medicine.

Public health is a term that is relatively new, and while the goals of public health are only vaguely understood, the best way to define public health is to contrast it with clinical medicine, to which it is often compared. The United States Institute of Medicine (IOM), and through them the World Health Organization (WHO), defined public health as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized community efforts.” As opposed to a one-on-one patient-doctor relationship, public health is defined as a group effort, whether it be for a town, a state, or a nation as a whole.

3. Key Issues in Public Health

The foremost issue in public health, which is a concern for the world, is the issue of safety. With the rise of terrorism, there is a potential threat for large populations to be victims of mass terrorism using biological agents. In the 21st century, we are also witnessing a rise in the frequency and scale of natural disasters. These have the potential to be a source of both acute and chronic health effects. Past disasters have clearly demonstrated the weaknesses in public health infrastructure and capabilities in the arena of preparedness and response. This includes lack of effective surveillance to quickly assess the extent of the health effects, lack of planning and coordination in the disaster response, and inadequate resources to implement interventions to protect the public’s health. High-income countries are also recognizing the growing issue of imported foods and toys from foreign manufacturers in which there is little surveillance of safety standards. As a consequence, there have been an increasing number of recalls for these products due to various health risks.

The stated aim of public health is to “assure conditions in which people can be healthy”. Public health has been monitoring the health of Americans since the U.S. Surgeon General issued the first report on smoking and health in 1964. Several health issues have been identified as key issues in the USA. Considering a larger global scale of health, many of these issues are applicable to the health of countries worldwide.

4. Strategies for Improving Public Health

Alternative policies on the financing of the health service have been an issue of great contention. Healthcare in the UK has historically been funded through a system of general taxation. It was a system Pearson and Buchan (2002) state was effective in reducing inequalities in access to services and health outcomes. However, in recent years it has become increasingly difficult to finance this method of healthcare with rising costs, an increasingly elderly population, and costly new medical treatments. This has led to a gap in resources for the NHS, which is difficult to finance and increasing disparity in healthcare provision. The Labour government has introduced reforms in NHS funding with the intention of reducing the social justice divide in health. However, it has been an issue of great contention as to what is the most effective method of financing healthcare. Pearson and Buchan (2002) argue that while some have suggested allowing a greater private sector role, the most effective way of reducing inequality in health is redistribution of resources to deprived areas and groups. This is a policy represented in the Health Improvement for the Next Generation, which aims to invest in building up the health of deprived populations who have the worst health. This is an encouragement to examine the effects of policy areas on health and tackle the disproportionate burden of ill health inflicted on disadvantaged people.

Titmus (1994) suggests that binary systems between healthcare financing could damage the implementation of a new public health strategy aimed at reducing inequalities in health. Historically, healthcare has been seen as a directly purchasable service largely by the rich. The consequences of medical treatment on individual health are clear and non-contested. Leftschultz (2000) suggests that healthcare as a public and private good is a relevant issue in developed countries. He mentions that if most healthcare is a private good, the government cannot act as an insurer to its citizens. With 12% of UK healthcare funded through private medicine, it is an argument that it is better to let the private sector look after health. The UK Labour government has recently increased the use of PPPs and privatization within UK healthcare, although presented in a way that suggests wealth redistribution.

5. Conclusion

Hence, better public health is an asset to both the state and the people in general. Public health is a major priority; more money should be invested into it, as a healthy nation will have lower medical costs. Medical facilities are a must, but by using them in the right way and with the combination of technical aids, a better living and working environment can be created, thus serving the well-being of people.

The public should also be health conscious. Cleanliness does not mean the absence of dirt; it implies clean living with a clear conscience. Better public health cannot be achieved unless the masses are trained to adopt better methods of living, more hygienic ways, and to accept the new ideas wholeheartedly.

The above essay concludes that, while a place may have all the technical and medical facilities it can have in order to promote a healthy nation, yet no progress can be made unless public health is improved. Public health is the responsibility of the state; recognizing this, the government should become determined in planning and executing better living standards for the people.