Public Health Notes

Public Health

Definition

• Public health is defined as: "Preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort so that every citizen is able to enjoy his or her natural right to health and longevity”.

Public Health Functions

The core functions of public health include:

• Monitoring and evaluation of health.

• Public health surveillance.

• Promoting and managing health research.

• Social participation and mobilization.

• Forming and implementing health policies.

• Developing human resources for health.

• Ensuring access to and rational use of medicines.

• Efficient and equitable health financing.

• Equitable access to health-promoting interventions.

• Managing and promoting interventions on health determinants.

Human Right to Health

• United Nations: There are 17 global goals related to health.

• Goal #3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

  • Main objective: Achieve universal health coverage and provide access to affordable medicines and vaccines for all.

Mexican Health System

Mexico’s health system includes multiple organisms:

• Secretaría de Salud

• IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social)

• ISSSTE (Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado)

• Private medical services