Government Agencies

Ben, Tyler, Gavin, and Kerry

World Health Organization

• International agency sponsored by the US

• They compile statistics and information on disease, and publish health information

• Established on April 7, 1948

• Its headquarters Geneva, Switzerland

• Fun Fact: 1 million people commit suicide every year, 86% of them live in low- and middle-income countries

US Department of Health and Human Services

• Deals with problems in US health

• Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"

• In 2002, the department released Healthy People 2010, a national strategic initiative for improving the health of Americans

National Institutes of Health

• Under US Department of Health and Human Services

• Responsible for biomedical and health-related research

• Their mission is to find new information on any form of disease that will lead to better health for everyone

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Under US Department of Health and Human Services

• It works to protect public health and safety by providing information to enhance health decisions, and it promotes health through partnerships with state health departments and other organizations.

Food and Drug Administration

• Under US Department of Health and Human Services

• They are responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), veterinary products, and cosmetics.

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research

• Under US Department of Health and Human Services

• Their research is designed to improve the outcomes and quality of health care, reduce its costs, address patient safety and medical errors, and broaden access to effective services

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• They are an agency of the United States Department of Labor

• Its mission is to prevent work-related injuries, illnesses, and occupational fatality by issuing and enforcing standards for workplace safety and health

Health departments

• A Health department is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry

• Health departments perform vaccination programs, free STD and AIDS tests, and other medical assistance, as well as compile statistics in their area