Lecture 3 Notes.pdf - PUBLIC HEALTH PUBH115 ADMINISTRATION...

Lecture Notes
PUBLIC HEALTH PUBH115
ADMINISTRATION
1. Governments ultimately have the responsibility for public health. The primary authority for health
is reserved to the states; however, the federal government uses some provisions of the Constitution to
justify a significant role in public health. Since World War II, the federal government has steadily
widened its role in public health. The division of authority between federal and state governments is
sometimes disputed and must be settled by the courts.
2. Governments have police powers to enforce compliance with public health laws, if necessary to
prevent a person from harming others, to defend the interests of incompetent persons, and, in some
cases, to prevent a person from harming himself or herself.
3. At any level of government, laws and regulations are determined through the actions and
interactions of legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Legislatures generally set up
administrative agencies to perform public health functions, and authorizes these agencies to set rules
that define how to accomplish the purpose of the legislation.
Administration
4.Administration is center of all human affairs. Its principal aspects are formulation of policy and its
implementation for attainment in optimum manner of stated ends in shape of services or products. This
is an activity which demands correct analysis and accurate orientation. In its broadest sense, it can be
defined as “Activities of groups cooperating to accomplish common goals”. It involves management
of human affairs concerned with the needs of carrying out specific objectives. “It is systematic
ordering/organizing of affairs and calculated use of resources aimed to make desired things happen and
forestalling everything contrary”. Administration consists of a structure or an organization of various
institutions essential for its functioning; the processes, procedures and interaction of various
constituents; and the techniques and skills of human relation. It is involved in all fields of human
endeavor involving planned effort. It is a force which lays down the objectives which an organization
and its management are to strive for and the broad policies under which to operate. It provides the
means by which one can most effectively use the knowledge and skills of those giving the service. It
involves conceptual thinking for attaining pre-determined goals through group efforts.
Health Administration
5.Health administration or healthcare administration is “field relating to leadership, management &
administration of hospitals, hospital networks & health care systems”. The purpose of Health
Administration is to provide total health services to the people with economy & efficiency. Health
Administration must use the knowledge of health economics to achieve economy. Health economics is
that branch of knowledge which seeks to optimize medical action, that is, to study ways of spreading
the available resources to ensure best possible state of health for the population, within limited means.