How does public health primarily differ from the practice of medicine?

Public health distinctly focuses on the health of populations rather than individual patients. This broad perspective encompasses the prevention of disease, the promotion of health, and the prolongation of life through organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities, and individuals. The goal of public health is to improve the overall health of communities by addressing factors that can affect health at the population level, such as health education, disease prevention programs, and health policy advocacy.

In contrast, the practice of medicine typically concentrates on diagnosing and treating individual patients based on their unique health issues, symptoms, and medical history. This individualized approach contrasts starkly with the public health goal of implementing strategies and interventions that can benefit the wider population.

The other options do not accurately reflect the core differences between public health and medical practice. For example, public health does not aim to eliminate all diseases, as that is often impractical; instead, it aims to manage and mitigate them. Similarly, public health does involve health assessments, especially on a population level, to inform strategy and policy decisions.