Public health

Public health, organization and practice of preventative medicine within a community. Many threats to health are beyond individual control: Disease, epidemics, pollution of the air, and purity of water can only be effectively regulated by laws and health authorities. Among the strictest controls are those on sewage and waste disposal. Most advanced countries have pure-food laws controlling food purity, freshness, and additives. In the United States, these controls are the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration. The work of individual countries in the public-health field is coordinated by the World Health Organization. Some countries have complete public-health services that provide free or low-cost medical treatment of all kinds.