Public health-oriented healthcare systems: Need for a modified typology

Healthcare systems across the world are dominated by medical care services compared to public health services. Within public health services, individual-oriented interventions dominate compared to population-based interventions perhaps due to the inherent dominance of biomedical approaches within public health. Clarity is needed between diverse approaches, methods and targets of public health as against clinical care services delivered under healthcare systems. Public health has a primary objective of prevention and promotion with the population as the target group with a societal focus, whereas the latter is curative in intent with an individualist orientation and logic and hence reductionist. The implications are important for developing nations such as India, which have a history of neglect towards ensuring public health due to the domination of policies on medical care. The healthcare system should use a modified typology that asserts its differential commitment to address both public health and medical care needs of its citizens.