Public management and the essential public health functions

This paper provides an overview of how different approaches to improving public sector management relate to the so-called core or essential public health functions such as disease surveillance, health education, monitoring and evaluation, workforce development, enforcement of public health laws and regulations, public health research, and health policy development. Using the principles of agency theory, the paper summarizes key themes in the public management literature and draws lessons for their application to these core functions, especially in low- and middle-income countries.