Which of the following are core functions of public health?

The core functions of public health encompass the essential roles and responsibilities necessary for maintaining and improving population health. The correct answer identifies three fundamental components: Assessment, Policy Development, and Assurance.

Assessment involves the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data to understand the health needs of a community. This includes identifying health trends, disparities, and emerging health issues.

Policy Development focuses on creating policies and plans that support the health of the population. It includes engaging stakeholders, implementing evidence-based practices, and ensuring laws and regulations promote health and well-being.

Assurance relates to ensuring that necessary services are provided to the community, including maintaining public health infrastructure and ensuring access to care. This function guarantees that the policies are implemented effectively, and health services are available to the population.

The other choices mention functions that are indeed important to healthcare, but they do not fully align with the core functions of public health. For example, while monitoring and treatment are important, they are not as foundational in the same way that assessment and policy development are in public health's role. Similarly, prevention and diagnosis are critical for clinical healthcare, and patient care focuses more on individual-level services rather than the population-level perspective that public health emphasizes.