Who are Public Health Professionals: Any Boundary??

Public health is not a very new subject. The history of Cholera epidemic and study led by John Snow and subsequent action of sanitary reforms dated in nineteenth century provide insight into evolution of modern Public health. Nevertheless, definition, area of Public Health remained vague for a long time.

We used to have discussions on definitions, scope and boundaries of Public health in Classes. I remember we agreed that Public Health is broad. Some even said, “the scope of Public Health ranges from beneath the land to the sky. There is no limit in the zone of Public health.” We concluded that everyone who are working to improve the health of people are Public health professionals. We weren’t completely wrong though. Indeed, if you are working for the welfare of people, that's absolutely public health action. But in my today’s understanding, it contravenes against the essence of Public Health.

Why do we need demarcation?

Before I clarify why it contravenes the principle of public health, I would like to focus why it is necessary to demarcate the scope and to define Public Health professionals.

Professional growth of Public health: Once you are certain that which land is yours, then you will be better able to design the city there. People will design the buildings, roads, other infrastructures, and invest money to expand the area. In similar fashion, Once the scope and area of Public Health is demarcated, it will be a lot easier to decide on what to invest, where to invest. At least the government will not be baffled whether to build a Hospital or Public health outlet providing education to a target group when government allocates funds on the title of Public Health.

Solidarity: only the wolfs form the pack, fishes make the school and animals make horde and similar people make the community. They can set a goal, solidify and work to reach that goal provided that they have resources. Such Unions will help to strengthen the communal feelings and they work for their advancements. This will help in leaving impact to the society.

Working Environment: This demarcation will help in ensuring the capacity and limitation of the public health professionals.

Who are Public Health Professionals?

Institute of Medicine defines Public Health Professionals, “a person educated in public health or a related discipline who is employed to improve health through a population focus”. Scutchfield and Keck in Principles of Public Health Practice restate that “The test for whether something should be considered part of public health is the presence of a focus on a population group or community and on a preventive strategy or a preventable outcome.” There are two key things that public health focuses an action of prevention and approach as population group or the community. The action of prevention ranges from primordial prevention to tertiary level of Prevention and this should be targeted to the Population health. To define a public health professionals and public health practice, these two factors should always be taken into consideration.

Because of vague definition of Public health professionals, it has become really difficult to enumerate Public health workers and It is a global issue. Physician, Nurses, veterinarian, engineers, administrators, anyone can be public health workers. However, the two key elements should be taken into consideration. It is essential to devise workforce taxonomy in Public health because of its current undefined nature. Public health occupations can broadly be divided into four main categories: 1. management and leadership, 2. professionals and scientific, 3. technical and 4. outreach and support services. Theses public health professionals should have professional competencies to carry out certain essential public health services such as monitoring health status, diagnosing and investigating health problems and health hazards in the community, informing, educating and empowering people about health issues, mobilizing community partnerships to identify and solve health problems, developing policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts, enforcing laws and regulations, Research.

It is necessary to reevaluate definition of Public health workforce for professional growth, unity and benchmark. 

References:

F. Douglas Scutchfield and C. William Keck. Principles of Public Health Practice. 2009.