Introduction
Public health means the science of protecting or improving people’s health in their community, which can be reached by promoting healthy lifestyles, research, and injury prevention. Public health is concerned with providing direct and indirect coverage for helping populations address their health concerns. In the US, public health is addressed by several agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services, which are responsible for strengthening ties between the population and the government in healthcare provision and disease prevention (Frezza, 2017).
Why Focus on Public Health
Public health is a part of the larger system aimed at improving populations’ well-being and preventing mortality. Research and identification of relevant issues allow for the early response to arising healthcare challenges. Moreover, it becomes possible to reduce the inequality gap when it comes to medication administration to people based on income, race, and ethnicity. Public health initiatives such as vaccination, family planning, and safety laws increase life expectancy by almost 30 years (Acharya, 2020). Thus, public health facilitates lifestyles that guarantee well-being in society.
Population Served
Public health does not discriminate based on income. The aim is to provide an evidence-based approach to combat health issues affecting children, veterans, women, people with disabilities, and many others (Fant, 2020). Insurance that is incorporated in public health programs allows for widespread coverage; thus helping underserved groups avoid infectious diseases and engage in healthy behaviors through education and regular screening. Additionally, they are protected from environmental hazards that may affect people exponentially (Acharya, 2020).
Population Benefits from Public Health
Through public health, people get protected from diseases and the spread of infections. It also helps facilitate more research, which is essential for creating opportunities for new medication and treatment types development. Besides, when people are in good health overall, they can work and add to economic development, which is one of the concerns for governments. Thus, public health helps the US government to identify pressing issues that need addressing for reaching maximum population productivity (Acharya, 2020). For example, during COVID-10, consistent research allowed the development of measures of protection and infection prevention.
Programs Available and Improvement Perspectives
Public health programs have been developed to help underserved populations reach the desired health outcomes. Both Medicaid and Medicare are programs that focus on low-income individuals and disabilities, thus helping those at risk find the right treatment plans (Frezza, 2017). Besides, the programs invest in medical innovation that facilitates effective interactions between the government and its citizens. However, it has been found that the government should engage in better control of costs and expenses (Frezza, 2017). More funding could improve healthcare by adding more resources, thus facilitating improved care provision.
Improving Programs
Medicaid and Medicare have had some problems due to the administration and the planning by the government. To address their issues, taxation must be checked, especially in terms of deduction rate increases. Additionally, the programs need to undergo more detailed planning, such as checking the income scale and limiting their scope to individuals who need them the most (Acharya, 2020). Moreover, telehealth can be a cost-saving solution that will cut the money and time spent on doctors’ visits. Finally, more analysis when determining the right course of action for patients is necessary.
Funding in Public Health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) controls finance allocation. Currently, there are programs in all the US states on the way to facilitate resource allocation in all the required areas. In 2021, the CDC’s overall budget was 7% of the total funds (Fant, 2020). The Prevention and Public Health Fund is a program developed to sustain the country’s investment in healthcare. However, there has been a misappropriation of money, with only $850 million allocated for public health, which seemed not enough (Fant, 2020). This issue requires immediate addressing.
How Funding Improves Care
Funding in public health is a significant factor in the success of the government’s agenda on health. When there is sufficient funding, it is possible to afford the human resources, technology for healthcare, and the programs that need money to support clinical matters. Additionally, funding leads to stability in staffing, thus improving patient care, which will facilitate better outcomes over time (Fant, 2020). Moreover, public health must be funded to create enough space for medical research and the development of new treatments. The government must follow the elements highlighted previously for more effective budget management.
Future of Public Health
The future of public health in the US will be determined by the current stakeholders in health. Notably, there must be leveraging of issues such as funding, human expertise, communal development of public health facilities, and sensitization of the most appropriate areas to improve people’s lives (Fant, 2020). Medical researchers will play an important part in strengthening public health in the future as they will identify existing gaps in healthcare and recommend the implementation of new changes for the betterment of health. Therefore, more research must be undertaken to boost the well-being of the US population. That will ensure the subject is evaluated for long-term perspectives in the US and other countries.
Conclusion
Public health is an area of focus that helps improve medical care. It helps various groups such as children, veterans, and people with disabilities. Public health has been having constraints due to administrative and research shortcomings that have not been addressed, while the future of public health lies in stakeholders reaching a consensus on major issues. Importantly, more funding for public health is necessary to facilitate improved research and investment in human resources. It is high time that everyone becomes a key stakeholder so that the rate of mortalities from diseases drops to the minimum level in the world. Populations should be educated on effective disease preventive measures to facilitate well-being and extended life expectancy.
References
Acharya, Y. (2020). Re: Letter to the editor of public health in response to ‘Nipah virus infection: Gaps in evidence and its public health importance. Public Health, 181(7), 204. Web.
Fant, G. (2020). Public health, population health, population health management, and describing a role for data analytics: Ideas for health system administrators. Public Health – Open Journal, 5(1), 8-10.
Frezza, E. (2017). Is Medicare and Medicaid unifying or crushing? This is the dilemma. Public Health Open Access, 1(2), 77-79.