The purpose of public health policy is to ensure the quality of life is maintained in communities and nations. The policies are made by governmental or non-governmental organizations that are committed to providing basic health services and general welfare to the community at large. These organizations work to promote the basic right of every individual to lead a healthy life.
The key functions of public health policy include:
Prevention against disease is the primary goal of health policy. Public health aims to promote general well being and reduce the burden of diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and mental illnesses. The policy provides information on prevention methods, prevalence of diseases and on the status of current and future need for prevention. It also advocates for treatment and testing for these diseases, with the help of research and development. The objective of health promotion is to minimize the risks and to promote quality of life.
The primary instrument of public health is the National Health Service (NHS), which is a major provider of health care services. Other organizations that work in collaboration with NHS include local healthcare and education. They provide comprehensive health services to the community and extend their support to improve health through community health programs. The programme also includes financial support for practices that have been proven to be cost-effective.
Public health policy also deals with preventative health measures such as teaching people about nutrition, encouraging them to drink healthy beverages such as water and tea and to eat healthy food. Public health also promotes awareness about weight and physical fitness and develops and implements healthy behaviors such as the maintenance of a regular exercise routine, the use of sunscreen and other protection against the effects of environmental factors like air pollution and sunlight. Public health policies also deal with tobacco control and promotion, creating and disseminating educational materials to the public about the harmful effects of tobacco. These include warning labels and the promotion of smoking cessation services.
- The function of public health policy is further seen in promoting the general wellbeing of the population and making them aware of their personal health.
- This policy is also implemented in the healthcare settings to ensure that the needs of the individual are being met and that they are capable of receiving quality care.
- It is also used in managing diseases and health risks.
- This is done through surveillance of health, determining patterns and developments in the field of health, devising methods to avoid emergencies and to respond to them promptly and appropriately.
The function of public health policy is strengthened by ensuring the general well-being of the community. This is achieved through promoting community unity, communication and cooperation. This promotes awareness-raising and brings together individuals from different walks of life to address health issues affecting the community. Through this policy, the community has the confidence to protect itself against threats and to guarantee its own safety. The support of the community is very crucial in making better informed decisions and making them work in the interest of the common good.
