Public health

(Photo: European Commission)

Public health 

The Lisbon Treaty provides for public health matters as a shared competence in Art. 4.2.k TFEU. EU law therefore override member states' existing legislation and their right to legislate in this area (art. 2.2 TFEU).

Other questions relating to the protection of human health fall within the area of supporting, coordinating or complementary action. See Art.6.a TFEU and Art. 168 TFEU.

Public Health is the science and art of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research on disease and injury prevention. Public health helps improve the health and well-being of people in local communities and across a  nation. It helps less fortunate people achieve a healthier lifestyle.

The EU is empowered under the treaties to take measures to ensure a high level of human health protection. The EU may complement, co-ordinate, and promote national measures of public health, but not legislate directly. This power (competence) remains with the member states.

The EU Court decided in the Kohll case (C-158/96) that medical treatment is also subject to the principle of free movement of services. Other cases have also expanded EU competences into health and the EU is working on a joint patients' directive.

The field of public health is highly varied and encompasses many academic disciplines. However, public health is mainly composed of the following core areas:

- Environmental Health

- Biostatistics

- Behavioural Science/Health Education

- Epidemiology

- Health Services Administration/Management

- Maternal and Child Health

- Nutrition

- International/Global Health

- Public Health Laboratory Practice

- Public Health Policy

- Public Health Practice

The United Nations' World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity".

 

Links

Activities of the European Union: Public health: http://europa.eu/pol/health/index_en.htm http://www.whatispublichealth.org/