“Who is primarily responsible for the health of a nation: its government or its people? Illustrate your answer with reference to past and present policies and debates.”

Public Health is the area of social policy that deals with the soundness and condition of people as a whole. Whilst Acheson (1988) defines the maintenance of a nations health as: the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts of society. The essay will aim to discuss who is responsible for the maintenance of Achesons definition, the government or its people.

The first major problems to do with Public Health seemed only to arise after the industrial revolution. The trend of urbanisation had caused many problems; the mass migration of people from rural areas to urban had led to huge over crowding in cities. People were forced to come to towns, because that was where the work was; and the combination of low wages and lack of affordable shelter had led to numbers of people often renting parts of rooms….(short extract)