Desafios da saúde pública no século XXI

Public health, as an art and a practical science, focuses on population health and seeks to promote and protect health and prevent disease, through proactive and healthy behaviours. In a global context, health systems are dealing with major challenges and a reflection is due in order to develop risk minimization strategies. Some examples of these challenges are the shortage of resources, rising health expenses, population ageing, climate change, health inequities, emergent and reemergent diseases, and the burden of non-communicable diseases. Regarding these, it’s possible to develop strategic axes, such as new dynamic governance models, response and preparedness implementation measures to deal with climatic and environmental issues, leadership and communication skills development, and strengthened cooperation, accountability and transparency. Thus, there are opportunities that can be found in the public health challenges that arise in the XXI century, and they can be found in delivering health promotion and disease prevention interventions, promoting intersectoral collaboration, developing evidence-based actions and aligning efforts between social partners. Society and human development will ultimately depend on the capacity to change and adapt, leaving no one behind.