Promote and protect health: Seize the opportunity for a modern public health system in Germany - now!

Abstract

There is a lack of institutional and regulatory structure and coordination in the public health care system in Germany. The current reform approaches to the public health service, the establishment of a Federal Institute for Public Health and the amendment of the Prevention Act offer opportunities to lay the foundations for a modern public health structure within the framework of these reforms. In this context, the present study, based on the field of health promotion and primary prevention, outlines the following five task areas 1. gathering socio-epidemiological data, 2. health communication, 3. implementation of interventions, 4. method development, evaluation and quality development and 5. discursivization; all of these are highly relevant both for practical work of all identified actors and for their coordination. Taken together, these open a window of opportunity for a coherent, nationwide infrastructure for public health that is capable of action and has the ability to adapt as needed in Germany.