| Focus | Primarily concerned with providing medical services, treatment, and care to individuals and communities to address health issues. | Focuses on the health of populations, emphasizing prevention, health promotion, and the improvement of overall public health. |
| Nature of Service | Delivers healthcare services directly to individuals, including medical diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and other medical interventions. | Addresses health concerns through interventions at the community, regional, or national level, emphasizing prevention and health education. |
| Key Players | Includes healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics), healthcare providers (doctors, nurses), pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers. | Involves public health agencies (e.g., CDC), non-profit organizations, researchers, epidemiologists, and health educators. |
| Services Provided | Offers medical examinations, surgeries, hospitalization, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and a wide range of medical treatments. | Provides public health programs, disease surveillance, health education, immunization campaigns, and policy development. |
| Funding Sources | Funded primarily through healthcare payments (insurance, out-of-pocket), government healthcare programs (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid), and private investments. | Funded through government budgets, grants, donations, and public health initiatives, often with a focus on preventive measures. |
| Approach | Focuses on individual patient care, treatment, and medical interventions, often in response to existing health conditions. | Takes a population-based approach, emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention, and the identification of health disparities. |
| Goal | The primary goal is to diagnose, treat, and provide healthcare services to improve the health of individuals and communities. | Aims to protect and improve the health of entire populations, reduce health inequalities, and prevent disease and injury. |
| Regulation | Governed by healthcare regulations, accreditation bodies (e.g., JCAHO), and licensing requirements for healthcare professionals. | Governed by public health laws, regulations, and policies, often implemented by government agencies at various levels. |
| Education and Training | Requires healthcare professionals to undergo medical education, licensing, and continuing education to provide clinical care. | Involves training in public health, epidemiology, health policy, and health education to address population health issues. |
| Research Focus | Often focuses on medical research, clinical trials, pharmaceutical development, and healthcare technology advancements. | Concentrates on public health research, epidemiological studies, health policy analysis, and preventive strategies. |
| Examples | Hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, private medical practices, medical device manufacturers. | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), local health departments, non-profit health organizations. |
