Erfahrungen aus dem Öffentlichen Gesundheitsdienst

Public health services are continually provided by local health authorities („Gesundheitsämter“), thus contributing to an effective population health care. As a rule, public health services in Germany are however overshadowed by out-patient health services. Public health services regularly become the focus of attention when society and mass media face the dangers and challenges of pandemics or when obvious hygiene deficiencies in clinics, nursing homes or surgeries provoke claims of a 'stricter control by local health authorities'. The latter are however confronted with a lack of junior staff and staffing restrictions. Only when these problems are solved will it be possible to guarantee comprehensive public health services in the future.