Public health medicine is about improving and protecting the health of the population as a whole. Public health physicians have specialist knowledge of health protection, health service development and health improvement.
Public health medicine reaches beyond the usual boundaries of the healthcare system. Doctors in this specialty work in national government agencies, local community and voluntary organisations.
Public health physicians work to:
protect the population from health threats such as communicable diseases and environmental hazards
reduce health inequalities
support healthier lifestyles
protect and improve healthcare services for local populations