Public health is a field that studies the factors that affect our collective health and wellbeing. It encompasses a broad range of activities and professionals, including scientists and researchers, nutritionists, epidemiologists (disease detectives), social workers, sanitation engineers, planners, community health and wellness workers, and policy makers. The goal of public health is to promote and protect the health of our communities and populations.
Public policy refers to laws, regulations, guidelines and budgets that are enacted by government agencies or bodies with the authority to do so. These may be legislative or judicial, but can also include agency or departmental policies and practices that are not necessarily legally binding. Policy is often a key element in ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of public health efforts.
Many of the world’s most effective public health interventions have been developed and implemented through the governmental and non-governmental sectors working together. These include vaccines, public education campaigns, building clean water and sewer systems, implementing safe food standards, improving workplace safety, and reducing tobacco use.
In the United States, many of the powers and responsibilities associated with public health are delegated to the federal level through the Constitution’s “commerce clause.” However, much of the work is actually done at the state and local levels where resources are scarce and roles and responsibilities can vary widely across the country.
This “patchwork” system can be a strength for allowing more localized, tailored approaches but it can also hinder efforts to tackle large-scale issues like obesity, climate change and pandemics. The different roles and responsibilities can also create challenges when it comes to incorporating the best available evidence into policymaking.