Written by Louise Maheo

“Public health” is a word we hear everywhere in Europe, but how do we define it clearly? This term could be described as an autonomous discipline, a science, or a professional practice, which studies the sanitary state of a community and the global health of the populations on all its aspects, curative, preventive, educational and social.

Consequently, the word “public health“ focuses on the community instead of the individual.

Public health as we know it today, has not been the same throughout the ages due to its constant evolution. Indeed, it has been treated in different ways, i.e. in the Middle Ages, when, due to religion, epidemics were considered to come from a divine cause. Thus, at that time, public health was limited to isolated actions to limit the epidemic, since there were no other means to avoid it, nor adequate research.

Later, in the 18th century, medical/scientific discoveries and the collective awareness of the importance of hygiene made prevention a matter of public health.

In the XIX century, scientific discoveries such as microbes and vaccines constituted a revolution in public health. As a result, one may see an accent on the link between the conditions of social life and the diseases, but especially the need for public hygiene.

Moreover, the creation of public showers as well as public toilets constituted a revolution regarding general sanitary access.

Then in the XX century, health became a political matter in many countries, which can be seen when specific ministries were created as well as the right to health.

Where are we now?

What’s going on in the 21st century and what is the current state of public health? We have seen mortality decline; health inequalities have hardened; and access to care has become expensive.

I had the amazing opportunity to interview 5 professionals from different walks of life, who gave us informative answers.

How can we increase the health budget?

How can we bring more care to the homeless?

What do hospitals currently need to revive?

If you could improve one process or protocol after an experience at hospital, what would it be and why?

With the current health crisis that started in 2020, it has become necessary to direct public health in the field of promotion, prevention and especially related to the improvement of health. We must continue monitoring and improving health security.

To conclude, public health is what allows us to study the public health of the population and think about solutions to improve its current state.

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