Ministry of Health
Public Health in B.C.
What Are Core Functions in Public Health?
A Framework for Core Functions in Public Health is a component of public health renewal in British Columbia. The framework was developed to:
- Identify the key set of public health services that should be provided by the health authorities
- Strengthen the link between public health, primary care and chronic disease management
- Help reduce direct and indirect health costs by improving population health
- Assist health authorities in providing effective public health services
- Improve the performance and delivery of public health services
The Framework for Core Functions in Public Health defines public health strategies and system capacity requirements for success. Long-term core programs are included to represent the minimum level of public health services that health authorities should provide in a renewed and modern public health system. The framework includes four public health strategies, each of which is used in the delivery of four core program areas (which are further subdivided into 21 programs). The population and inequalities perspectives (lenses) are applied in all strategies and programs in the framework to ensure that populations of concern are of high priority.
In addition to providing the core functions, health authorities will be expected to develop and deliver services to meet local needs. A combination of best practice guidelines, benchmarks and outcome-based expectations will be used to ensure that these core programs are implemented consistently across the province.
The 4 essential public health strategies in the framework include:
- Health promotion - strategies that range from health advocacy for change in public policy, to partnership building and coalition development for healthy communities, to health education that develop personal skills for health
- Health protection – strategies that protect people through legislation, regulation, inspection and, if need be, enforcement and prosecution
- Preventive interventions – primordial prevention, primary prevention and early secondary prevention that include immunization, counselling, screening and early detection, and prophylactic or in some cases preventive treatments
- Health assessment and disease surveillance – strategies critical for recognizing outbreaks, monitoring health status and determinants of health, and assessing the effectiveness of public health programs and services
There are twenty one core public health programs that are organized into 4 program areas:
Health Improvement Programs – intended to improve overall health and well-being, and prevent a wide range of acute and chronic disease and disability. Includes a focus on reproductive health, healthy development and healthy communities, healthy living, food security, and mental health promotion.
Disease, Injury, and Disability Prevention Programs – intended to prevent specific diseases, disabilities, and injuries that contribute significantly to the burden of disease. Includes a focus on chronic disease prevention, unintentional injury prevention, prevention of violence, abuse and neglect, prevention of mental disorders and problematic substance abuse, communicable disease prevention and control, dental health and the prevention of dental disease, prevention of disability as well as prevention of the adverse health effects of the health care system.
Environmental Health Programs– intended to protect people from environmental hazards, both from natural causes and human activity in the built and natural environments. Includes a focus on air and water quality, safe food, and community sanitation and environmental health.
Health Emergency Management Programs – intended to ensure the public health sector is fully prepared and able to respond effectively to health emergencies thereby saving lives and avoiding injury or disease. Includes a focus on prevention and mitigation, preparedness, and response and recovery.
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