List of essential public healthcare functions as a basis for analysis and evaluation of the public health system in a city

Abstract

Introduction. The World Health Assembly in resolution WHA69.1 defined the essential public health operations (EPHO) as the most cost-effective, comprehensive and sustainable ways of improving population health and reducing the burden of disease. In recent years Russia has been actively working to introduce a system for motivating people to lead healthy lifestyles into the medical prevention system. A special place is given to the regions. Moscow as an independent region of the Russian Federation has a great potential in this field. However, for the effectiveness of health system planning and public health promotion measures at the national, regional and municipal levels, more clarity is needed on the issue of EPHOs. Objectives. To study the main characteristics of EPHO list and results of its application in the countries of the world as a tool of public health system construction on the level of a city. Materials and methods. A content analysis of World Health Organization documents, scientific publications of foreign and domestic authors, country reports on the development of EPHOs lists and evaluation of POPs implementation was performed. Results. The list of EPHOs varies from country to country because of different national priorities, demographics, financial resources, etc. The European Region's list of ten EPHOs describes elements inside and outside the public health system. The list of EPHOs is used as a tool for analyzing public health systems or organizations at the national and local level. Discussion. More conceptual clarity is needed for public health systems planning and public health advocacy, as well as adaptation of the EPHO assessment tool to the context of Moscow. Conclusion. The structure of the EPHOs list included in the instrument of WHO Regional Office for Europe can reflect the public health landscape in Moscow and be used as a tool for investigation of public health systems or organizations at the city level and can contribute to the elaboration of the unified city public health policy and establishment of integrated public health services.