Public health system
Public health system refers to all public, private, and voluntary entities that contribute to the delivery of essential public health services within a jurisdiction. This concept ensures that all entities' contributions to health and well-being are recognized in assessing the overall health of the community.
Definition[edit | edit source]
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a public health system as "all public, private, and voluntary entities that contribute to the delivery of essential public health services within a jurisdiction." This concept ensures that all entities' contributions to health and well-being are recognized in assessing the overall health of the community.
Components[edit | edit source]
The public health system includes:
- Governmental Public Health Infrastructure: which includes the local, state, and federal public health agencies.
- Healthcare Providers: such as primary care physicians and hospitals.
- Public Safety Workers: such as police officers and firefighters.
- Human Service and Charity Organizations: such as food banks and homeless shelters.
- Education and Youth Development Organizations: such as schools and youth clubs.
- Recreation and Arts-related Organizations: such as community centers and sports teams.
Importance[edit | edit source]
Public health systems are crucial for maintaining and improving the public's health. They provide essential services, from ensuring food and water safety to responding to health emergencies. They also play a critical role in disease prevention and health promotion.
Challenges[edit | edit source]
Public health systems face several challenges, including funding, workforce, and system structure issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted these challenges and the importance of robust public health systems.
See also[edit | edit source]
Public health system Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD