• public health
• Aphorism of the month

In Spain, like in other countries, public health services are a small part of the health system. They are under the mandate of either local or regional health authorities and they are responsible for health protection and promotion activities, which include the surveillance and control of communicable diseases as well as community outbreaks and, also, the interventions to prevent and respond to health hazards or dangers.

The importance of public health in the health system is marginal. It amounts to only …