BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmj.39356.406377.BE, (Published 22 October 2007)

Editorials

The role of national public health institutes in health infrastructure development

Science based and often relatively apolitical, they deserve 10% of donors' funds

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Modern day challenges to public health systems include—as well as infectious and chronic diseases—the need to improve environmental health, occupational health, and mental health; to reduce injuries; to strengthen systems for delivering public health services; and to prepare for unanticipated problems and emergencies, such as natural disasters and bioterrorism.

Public health services have developed in a less consistent manner than medical services in hospitals, clinics, and primary care. But, from 19th century pioneers of public health such as Farr, Chadwick, and Snow in England; Shattuck in the United States; and Frank, Villerme, and Virchow on the European continent,¹ to Yen and Grant in Ding County, China,² disciplines and skills have evolved into a set of recognised essential public health capacities. As defined by the Pan American Health Organization³ and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),⁴ such capacities permit a nation—through its public health authorities—to recognise, measure, and . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Emory Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA, ² International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) Sub-Secretariat, Emory Global Health Institute, ³ IANPHI Secretariat, National Public Health Institute (KTL), FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland , ⁴ National Public Health Institute (KTL)

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