The Origins and Aims of Public Health Policy

Public health policy refers to the strategies and measures implemented by the government with the objective of promoting general health, preventing diseases, and prolonging life among the population.
The origin of public health policy can be traced back to the early civilizations where governments took measures to ensure the health and safety of their people, such as providing clean water and safe waste disposal.
The Industrial Revolution in the late 18th and 19th centuries further propelled the need for public health policies due to rapidly worsening living conditions resulting from urbanisation and factory work.
The primary aim of public health policy is to provide improved health for all by promoting a healthier lifestyle, preventing health issues, and ensuring equality in health.
It also focuses on reducing variations in health status among different groups such as the elderly, children, and those suffering from chronic diseases.
The public health policy generally operates on three levels: individual, community, and population level. At an individual level, it involves health education and promotion, at community level, it focuses on environments that encourage good health, and at a population level, it involves healthcare services organisation.
Public health policy also seeks to monitor health status, identify health needs, and provide services required by the community.
Major public health policies include actions against tobacco use, alcohol abuse, substance misuse, obesity, and initiatives for mental health and wellbeing.
Public health policy also covers environmental factors affecting health, such as air quality, water quality, and climate change.
Another aim of public health policy is to develop skills related to health and ensure that health services are accessible and serve the actual needs of the population, primarily the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Public health policy draws inputs from a wider range of sectors outside health including education, transport, housing, and environment sectors, recognising the multifaceted nature of health and wellbeing.