Public health organizations

Dr. Anjum Odhwani MD, MPH

Types of Organizations

• Governmental Health Agencies

• Quasi Governmental Health Agencies

• Nongovernmental Health Agencies

Governmental Health Agencies

• International Health Agencies

• National Health Agencies

• State Health Agencies

• Local Health Agencies

International Health Agencies

• World Health Organization - Headquarter is located in Geneva, Switzerland - 6 Regional Offices around the world - Organization began its work on April 7, 1948 - Organization is under the control of a Director General and 5 Assistant Directors-general plus staff

World Health Organization

• World Health Assembly is the governing

body that is made up of delegates from

all member nations and meets at least

once a year

• At the beginning of 2001, 191 countries were members

World Health Organization

• Primary objective• Is the attainment by all peoples of the best

possible level of health• 4 Major functions

- Give worldwide guidance in the field of health

- Set global standards for health

- Co-operate with governments to strengthen

national health programs

- Develop and transfer health technology,

information and standards

World Health Organization• Some of the major programs

– Eradication of smallpox

– Eradication of polio

– Health For All (HFA) – started in 1978

HFA seeks to create the conditions where people

have as a fundamental human right, the opportunity

to reach and maintain the highest attainable level of

health. The vision of a renewed HFA policy builds on

the WHO constitution, the experience of the past and

need for the future.

people have as a fundamental human right, the opportunity to reach and maintain the highest attainable level of health.

International Health Agencies

• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) - Founded in 1946

• Objectives• Building a protective environment for children• Quality basic education for all, especially

girls, adolescent opportunities• HIV/AIDS Prevention, parent-to-child transmission, care

and support, orphaned children• Reaching every child with life-saving vaccines• The best start in life

International Health Agencies

• Pan American Health Organization

- Founded in 1902

- Still an independent organization but

integrated into a regional office

- It serves as the specialized organization for

health of the Inter-American System.

- Also serves as the Regional Office for the

Americas of the World Health Organization

and enjoys international recognition as part of

the United Nations system.

National Health Agencies

• Department of Health and Human Services - Headed by the Secretary of HHS who is appointed by the President and is a member of president’s cabinet

- Budget is more than 400 billion dollars a year (20% of the Federal Budget)

- 3rd largest department in the government

- 12 Operating divisions and 10 Regional offices

Department of Health and Human Services

• HHS is the department most involved with the Nation’s human concerns

• It is department of people serving people, from newborn infants to elderly

• Touches the lives of more Americans than any other federal agency

Department of Health and Human Services• 8 of the 12 operating divisions constitute Public

Health Services

Agency for Healthcare, Research and Quality

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institutes for Health (NIH)

Food and Drug Administration

Health Resources and Services Administration

Indian Health Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

National Health Agencies

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Mission of the EPA– is to protect human health and the

environment– Since 1970, EPA has been working for a

cleaner, healthier environment for the American people

National Health Agencies

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• OSHA's mission – is to assure the safety and health of

America's workers by setting and enforcing standards

– providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health

State Health Departments

• All 50 states have their own state health department

• Purpose - To promote, protect and maintain the health and welfare of their citizens

State Health Departments

• Organization

- Head is a medical doctor who is a

political appointee and is often called a

Commissioner

- Has Assistant Commissioners and

Division Chiefs under him (often also

political appointees)

State Health Departments

• 10 Core Functions that fall into 4 headings

• Assessment

-Monitor Health

- Diagnose and Investigate Health Problems

• Policy Development

- Inform, educate and empower people about

health issues

- Mobilize community partnerships

- Develop policies and plans

State Health Departments• Assurance - Enforce laws - Link people to needed personal health services - Assure a competent public health and person health care workforce - Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility and quality of personal and population based health services• Research

– For new insights and innovation solution to health problems

State Health Departments• Typical Divisions - Administration - Communicable Disease Prevention and Control - Chronic Disease Prevention and Control - Vital and Health Statistics - Environmental health - Health Education or Promotion

- Maternal and Child health services-Mental health- Occupational and

industrial health- Dental health- Laboratory services- Public Health Nursing- Veterinary Public Health

State Health Departments

• Roles of State Health Departments -Establish and promulgate health

regulations

-Provide an essential link between local

and national health agencies

State Health Departments

• Roles of State Health Departments– Distribute federal and state funds to the

local agencies in accordance with

agreed priorities– Link local needs with national resources– Approve appointments of local health

officers and remove any who neglect

their duties

Local Health Agencies

• Local health departments (LHDs)– County health departments

– City health department

• Nationwide there are 2,850 LHDs

Local Health Agencies

• Local health departments (LHDs)• LHDs provides health services to the

people of the communities

• Funding for programs comes from local property taxes, some receive state and federal tax dollars and fee-for-service basis

Local health departments (LHDs)

• Mandated local health services - Inspection of restaurants and public buildings - Public transportation systems - The detection and reporting of certain diseases - The collection of vital statistics such as birth and deaths

Local health departments (LHDs)

• Other types of services provided

- Safety belt programs

- Immunization clinics

Local health departments (LHDs)

Board

Health ___________ Health Officer Commissioner (Physician)

____________________________________________________________________

Environmental Health Nursing Vital Chronic Communicable Health Education Statistics Disease Diseases

Organization of LHDs

Local health departments (LHDs)• Powers of Local Health Officer• Local health officer, who is usually a physician,

has far reaching powers including but not limited to the following:

- Power to arrest someone who resists

quarantine for an infectious disease

- Power to close a restaurant on the spot for

serious health law violations

- Power to impound a shipment of

contaminated food

Local health departments (LHDs)

• Coordinated School Health Programs

• Three essential components

- Comprehensive school health education

- Healthy school environment

- Health services

Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations

• Introduction:

-These are organizations that have some official health responsibilities but operate like voluntary health organizations.

-These derive some of their funding from the federal government, but also are funded by donations and operate independent of governmental supervision.

Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations

• American Red Cross– Founded in 1881 by Clara Barton – it has responsibilities placed on it by the

government – The President of the United States is its

honorary chairman– It is funded by voluntary contributions.

American Red Cross

• Official Duties– Act as official representatives of the federal

government during natural disasters such as flood, tornadoes, hurricanes and fires

– Serving as liaison between members of the active armed forces and their families during emergencies

American Red Cross

• Other Duties– Blood drives and blood collection– Safety services– Nursing and health services– Youth services– Community volunteer services– International services

Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations

• National Science Foundation• Purpose

– Funding and promotion of scientific research and development of individual scientists

– It receives and disperse federal funds but operates independently

Quasi-Governmental Health Organizations

• National Academy of Sciences• Chartered by Congress• Acts as an advisor to the government on

questions of science and technology• Funds projects, publish reports and take public

stands on health related issues

Nongovernmental Health Agencies

• Funded by private donations or in some cases by membership dues

• Agencies operate free from governmental interference as long as they meet Internal Revenue Service guidelines regarding their specific tax status

Nongovernmental Health Agencies

• Voluntary Health Agencies

• Professional Health Organizations/ Associations

• Philanthropic Foundations

• Service, social and religious organizations

• Corporate Involvement in Community Health

Voluntary Health Agencies

• Examples

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving

• American Lung Association

• American Cancer Society

• American Heart Association

Professional Health Organizations/ Associations

• Examples• American Chiropractic

Association • American Medical Association• American Dental Association

Texas Chiropractic Association

Philanthropic Foundations

• Examples

• Rockefeller foundation

• Ford Foundation

• Aga Khan development network

Service, social and religious organizations

• Examples• Lions club• Rotary club• United Jewish Appeal• Protestants’ One Great Hour of Sharing• The Catholics’ Relief Fund

Corporate Involvement in Community Health