Improving health through the practice of Public Health Medicine

Public Health is “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society” (Acheson, 1988; WHO). 
There are four main areas of public health expertise:     
  • Health Protection
  • Health Service Improvement
  • Health Improvement
  • Health Intelligence

Our vision is improved population health for the people of Ireland through the practice of Public Health Medicine

Model

Ireland requires a comprehensive, safe, effective and sustainable model of Public Health Medicine which optimizes outcomes across all areas ofpractice.



Capacity

Capacity building is required to enable Public Health Medicine to ensure the health security of the state and to meet ourobligations under national and international law.

Voice

Public Health Medicine must present a strong, cohesive voice to support more informed decision makingand provide dynamic leadership on public health issues.

"Public Health physicians should be playing a significant and active role (i.e. drivers rather than passengers)"-Horwath, 2018

Dr. Gabriel Scally, in his review of the CervicalCheck programme, highlighted the detrimental lack of input into the programme, and other public health programmes, by Public Health physicians.  He also stressed that the time had come for public health physicians to be afforded the same recognition as their clinical colleagues.  The Crowe Horwath review recommended significant changes to the delivery of public health medicine in Ireland, including the broadening of the scope of public health practice beyond the traditional focus on health protection to include: Health Improvement, Health Service Improvement and Health Intelligence, all delivered through a hub and spoke model.

Scally, 2018

"If prevention is better than cure, why not resource it?"

Public Health Medicine in Ireland has been under resourced for decades.  This has meant that the complex and detailed work of investigating and controlling outbreaks in vulnerable settings like Nursing Homes and complex settings like large workplaces has had to be done with pen and paper and an excel spreadsheet, rather than on a case management IT system.   Despite being highlighted in a number of reviews, reports and a PrimeTime special, Ireland still does not have a national case management IT system in place.


"The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the consequences of chronic under-investment in public health"

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization

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