Home of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Access to information on conditions, treatments, quality, and pricing greatly affects the choice by patients/consumers and, therefore, the incentives of medical professionals. While the US healthcare system has come under fire for lack of openness, new legislation may encourage greater openness. There is a perceived tension between the need for transparency on the one hand and such issues as patient confidentiality and the possible exploitation of information for commercial gain on the other.

  • From 1 July, four new agencies will be helping to achieve our vision of Pae Ora

    Beverage taxes came into light with increasing concerns about obesity, particularly among youth. Health, according to the World Health Organization, is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”. A variety of definitions have been used for different purposes over time.

    Health professionals

    These include personal actions for preventing or minimizing the effects of a disease, usually a chronic condition, through integrative care. They also include personal hygiene practices to prevent infection and illness, such as bathing and washing hands with soap; brushing and flossing teeth; storing, preparing and handling food safely; and many others. Just as there was a shift from viewing disease as a state to thinking of it as a process, the same shift happened in definitions of health.

    Government activity

    Primary care medical services are provided by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or other health professionals who have first contact with a patient seeking medical treatment or care. These occur in physician offices, clinics, nursing homes, schools, home visits, and other places close to patients. About 90% of medical visits can be treated by the primary care provider. These include treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes.

    Health advice

    The impact of these changes to Healthy People will be determined in the coming years. Log in to your NHS account to book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions and access a range of other healthcare services. We initiate projects to address problems with solutions -whether that is a new type of diagnostic, a device or therapy that can help to better manage a disease or infrastructure to improve the organisation of care. We bring the right people together to turn ideas into commercially viable products and services. We create an environment where the brightest minds can explore new ideas and find practical resources to create products and services rooted in innovation. We’re activating a network of trailblazers to break down barriers, challenge convention and put healthcare solutions in people’s hands.