Precision public health an indian perspective – Rapid review

Author: 
Dr. Ravisankar, B., Dr. Vishnu Prasad, S., Dr. Indhra Priyadharshini, G., Dr. Afrah Anjum, D., Dr. Akila Roshini, A. and Dr. Abinaya, R.

Dental public health has long focused on traditional oral health promotion and disease prevention strategies as the basis of community oral health programs. ‘Precision’ public health (PPH) is conceptualised as a means of improving population health through the use of new technologies, particularly genomics and digital, which would guide public health practice by generating more individually tailored interventions and policies. The purpose of this article is therefore to highlight some of the evidentiary and philosophical challenges for the concept of ‘precision public health’ which have not been exposed to sufficient scrutiny. It is also to argue for a more considered focus beyond the genome, lest we career headlong towards a diversion of resources, away from what really matters, to the detriment of population health. Despite, opportunities for precision public health, many challenges lie ahead. The added value of new tools and approaches to public health practice needs to be evaluated just like precision tools should be evaluated in medicine. A sustainable informatics capacity is also needed to enhance connectivity and interoperability of clinical, laboratory, and public health systems. The rapid review also denotes a few ways to improve and implement Precision Public Health in Indian Scenario, for providing a productive, promoting health care system in mere future.

Paper No: 
4148