1. Pharmacists and Social Health
Introduction
Definition
History
Health service programs
Disease prevention
Health education

2. Introduction
Public health is a societal effort to protect, promote and restore the public health.
It is a combination of sciences, skills and beliefs that are directed to the prevention, maintenance and improvement of the health of all the people through collective or social actions.
Programs, institutions & services

3. What are its objectives?
The objective of public health is to reduce
The amount of disease
Premature death
Disease produced discomfort
Disability in the population.

4. Mission of public health
Fulfill society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy through an organized interdisciplinary effort.
Assure that the people/society has access to appropriate and cost effective health care.
Monitor the health status of the public and identify people at risk and prioritize for appropriate health care.

5. Inform, educate and empower people about health issues and mobilizing public or society’s involvement in health.
Develop policies, plans and legislations to support individual and community’s health efforts.
Promoting research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

6. Definition
The art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health and efficiency through organized community effort.
This approach works well for those seeking to apply public health activities to pharmacy settings.

7. Core functions
Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems.
Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community
Inform, educate and empower people about health issues.
Mobilize community partnership and action to identify and solve health problems.

8. Core functions – contd.
Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.
Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when unavailable.
Assure a competent public and personal healthcare work force.
Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population based health services.

9. History of public heath
The 1st public health organization in America was introduced after the yellow fever epidemics-1793.
Formation of American Public Health Association(APHA)-1872 with the objective of advancing sanitary/personal hygiene.
With the increase in the size and responsibilities of PHS state and local wise departments and boards, began to emerge.

10. Further expansion in services lead to the formation of a network of services or a link b/w federal, state and city /local depts. These localized departments are called as primary Health care units (PHC) which consists of a physician, nurse, sanitarian and administrative staff.
PHARMACISTS ?

11. Today PHS activities include not only food, drug and toxic substances but also disease control and prevention, biomedical research, health care to unreserved populations, mental health, sub. Abuse prevention, health promotion and international health.
Activities are further expanded with he introduction of antibiotics and vaccines both reduce the danger of infections.

12. Chronic diseases began to assume a major role in morbidity and mortality hospital care was replaced by home care.
Introduction of immunization communities instituted programs for disease prevention with vaccines and more personal health services such as maternal and child health.
Though nurses are the primary care provider pharmacists should become acquainted with local public health nurses and should provide services to patients.

13. New public health issues -1970s
New disease outbreaks like AIDs, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),environmental problems-exposure and disposal of toxic chemicals and wastes, nuclear waste, smog and air pollution
Societal problems like care of elderly population, teenage pregnancy and substance abuse.

14. Health service Programs
Though it is the of the federal Government’s constitutional right to promote the general welfare each state has got the right to guard the health of their inhabitants.
Within the state the health dept. provide a wide spectrum of services to the community under the rubric of public health.
The link between local and state health depts and federal consultants.

15. Who is the responsible person?
Health Director- Advanced degree in public health is responsible for the overall management of a health dept.
Nurses- Public Health Nurses, provide health services both at clinic and home.
Care of people ranging from infants-geriatrics.
Prevention and progress of diseases.

16. Public health is a health service for the financially, socially or geographically disadvantaged.
In reality for all members of community.
Role of pharmacists
Get acquiented with the local health dept.
Study the wide range of services
Avail these services as per the need.

17. Involve locally in public health
Involvement of pharmacists in the board.