What is public health?

The role of public health

In Ontario, the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) R.S.O. 1990 provides the legislative mandate for local public health units.

The HPPA and related provincial legislation provide for the existence, structure, governance, authority and functions of public health units and medical officers of health. The HPPA also enables related regulations, the Ontario Public Health Standards and associated protocols. Together these documents establish the requirements for fundamental public health programs and services and management and governance practices.

Public health is concerned with the health and well-being of the whole community rather than the treatment of illness and disability.

Public health views health as a resource for everyday living, and is influenced by the everyday environment we are part of. Studies show repeatedly broad determinants of health such as level of income, social status, education, employment opportunities, work place environment, physical environment, and family/friend supports have as much or more to do about a person’s health than does the presence of health care practitioners and facilities. This is not to say health care is not important; rather it is intended to make the point that the availability of health care is only one piece of having good health.

Public health focuses on:

• Health promotion – promoting the health of the public by changing knowledge, attitudes, practices and environmental supports for health-related behaviours.
• Disease and injury prevention – preventing or limiting substance misuse, injuries and reducing dental decay and infectious diseases.
• Health protection – reducing risks to human health in the environment caused by unsafe food, water, air or other health hazards.
• Population health assessment and surveillance – monitoring and understanding the health conditions and issues in the area.
• Emergency preparedness – coordinating our planning and response to emergencies such as forest fires, floods or chemical spills with local partners and municipalities.

Acts and Regulations that guide public health

Boards of Health and Medical Officers of Health have many legislative responsibilities. Categories of legislation affecting them include:

• Provincial acts and regulations devoted exclusively to public health or Board of Health (BOH) mandates and responsibilities (such as the Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Immunization of School Pupils Act).
• Provincial acts and regulations, not exclusively public health-related, where the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) or the BOH has a specified public health responsibility.
• Provincial acts and regulations where MOHs or BOH are not specifically mentioned, but they have a public health function delegated to them (e.g., the Smoke-Free Ontario Act).
• Provincial acts and regulations which apply to the board of health as an employer (e.g., the Employment Standards Act; Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; Pay Equity Act).
• Provincial acts and regulations that refer to the responsibilities and rights as medical practitioners, unrelated to their public health functions (e.g., the Regulated Health Professions Act).
• Provincial acts and regulations concerning municipalities and their local boards (e.g, the Municipal Act; Municipal Affairs Act).
• Provincial acts and regulations that are specific to certain jurisdictions (e.g., the County of Oxford Act; Regional Municipality of York Act)

All acts and regulations

You can find a list of all acts and regulations that refer to BOHs or MOHs on Ontario’s Ministry of Health website.

You can find all acts and regulation that are enforceable by Northwestern Health Unit on the Government of Ontario’s E-Laws website.