Public Health Inconvenient Truth Article Summary

The article describes the public health sector as an institution that was established with altruistic motives, while businesses are considered as profit-oriented. This presents a ground for skepticism on the part of the public health sector, especially to protect the financial interest of its clients/beneficiaries. However, considering the current hike in the cost of care and health research, the public health sector may no longer resist such a partnership due to the observed need for financial support available through businesses (Majestic, 2009). This expected partnership between the two bodies is also seen as slightly mutually beneficial. The public health sector gets the funding it needs, while businesses get top/priority medical considerations for its staff and an improved public image. However, sharing of other resources or brand promotion in favor of the public health system is not usually inclusive of such partnerships (Majestic, 2009).

Changes in the public health landscape

Various changes in the current public health sector can mostly be attributed to the recent economic crisis, which has forced the government to cut the public health budget continually. Along with budget cuts come new and deadly diseases (COVID-19, for example) that put pressure on public health care and...

Finally, unprecedented changes in the political and social landscape of the country have caused a general re-orientation about the efficiency and need for collaboration across all sectors in the country; this is significant for public health as well (Majestic, 2009).
Trends underscoring public health's need for partnership

Three main trends in public health administration have shown its...…\"healthy living\" column of the newspaper publications. Another example is from 2007 between the Illinois public health department, the Chicago White Sox, and \"Ed Randall's Bat for the Cure\"—a prostate awareness group. This alliance was formed to promote prostate awareness and screening among men in the state. As an incentive, basketball tickets to watch the Chicago Sox was given to the first 100 participants of the program, and the screening was done by Ed Randall's at the Sox stadium. In 2009 as well, Austin public health department collaborated with local transportation organizations in a community-oriented health awareness and promotion program. These examples show the significance and potential for a harmless (or mildly benign) collaboration between public health and private businesses, and such partnerships should be sought in the best interest of the public health beneficiaries.…