[Developments and prospects of the public health service in Bavaria]

Public Health Services in Bavaria are presently undergoing basic and complete reorganisation. A working group of the Bavarian Ministry of Labour, Social Problems, Family, Women and Health is compiling a report and working out a far-reaching concept of the tasks to be handled by Public Health Offices. The purpose of this work is to develop a profile of an update and efficient Public Health organisation. This entails not only description and definition of the jobs to be handled but also a delineation against other medical disciplines. Closer ties to research institutions and intensifying the exchange of expert knowledge with universities and other expert institutions is highly essential. Only if all professional groups represented in the Public Health organisation are called upon to cooperate, will it be possible to translate into reality a profile of tasks encompassing both the classical areas of activity such as infection hygiene and update requirements of the quality of management and research abilities such as a thorough knowledge of epidemiology. The interdisciplinary approach that can be realised in Public Health Offices enables teamwork in the development of approaches to solving a multitude of problems of a medical but mainly also of a social or environmental nature. This potential must be exploited and expanded. 2.9.99/D1.