Public Health in Ontario
What is Public Health?
The primary focus of Ontario's public health system is the health and well-being of the whole population through promotion and protection of health and the prevention of disease. A good public system means fewer people become sick or injured – and more people can live longer, healthier lives.
The public health system:
- protects health by controlling infectious diseases through regulatory inspections and enforcement, and by preventing or reducing exposure to environmental hazards;
- promotes health by supporting the development of public policy that promotes a healthy population; and working with community partners to promote healthy living;
- prevents disease and injury by surveilling outbreaks, screening for cancer, immunizing to control infectious disease, and conducting research on injury prevention.
How is public health different from the health care system?
The public health system plays a different role than the health care system of hospitals, doctors, nurses and other professionals we turn to when we are sick or injured.
Public health is responsible for helping protect Canadians from injury and disease and for helping them stay healthy and live stronger, healthier lives.
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