{{short description|Title commonly used for the senior government official of a health department or agency}} A '''medical officer of health''', also known as a '''medical health officer''', '''chief health officer''', '''chief public health officer''' or '''district medical officer''', is the title commonly used for the senior government official of a [[health department]], usually at a [[municipal government|municipal]], county/district, state/province, or regional level. The post is held by a [[physician]] who serves to advise and lead a team of public health professionals such as [[environmental health officer]]s and [[public health nurse]]s on matters of [[public health]] importance.
The equivalent senior health official at the national level is often referred to as the [[Chief Medical Officer|chief medical officer]] (CMO), although the title varies across countries, for example known as the [[Surgeon General of the United States|surgeon general]] in the United States and the [[Chief Public Health Officer of Canada|chief public health officer]] in Canada.
==Australia== {{further|Chief Medical Officer (Australia)}} The national senior adviser on health matters is known as the [[Chief Medical Officer (Australia)|''chief medical officer'']], while those at [[Australian states and territories|state and territory level]] are mostly known as the ''chief health officer'' (CHO), with one CMO and one ''chief public health officer''.<ref name=farhart>{{cite news |last1=Farhart |first1=Claudia |title=Who are the experts behind Australia's coronavirus response? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/who-are-the-experts-behind-australia-s-coronavirus-response# |access-date=16 September 2020 |work=SBS News |date=23 November 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Queensland Health | website=Chief Health Officer | date=24 September 2020 | url=https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/health-system/key-people/chief-health-officer | access-date=23 November 2020}} (Contains correction to Farhart article.)</ref>
==Canada== {{See also|Chief Public Health Officer of Canada}} The [[Chief Public Health Officer of Canada|''chief public health officer of Canada'']] is the senior health official for the [[Government of Canada|federal government]].
In [[Ontario]], one individual is named ''chief medical officer of health'' for the province and has powers to issue guidance, to issue provincial orders, and to coordinate public health responses with medical officers of health, who oversee various [[Public Health Units|public health units]].<ref name="refloat">{{cite news |title=Some Ontario businesses can reopen on Monday — if they can comply with safety rules |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ontario-reports-421-new-covid-19-cases-and-39-more-deaths |publisher=National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>
In [[British Columbia]], the ''provincial health officer'' is the senior health official for the provincial government.<ref name="bcpho">{{cite web |title=Office of the Provincial Health Officer / Biographies |url=https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/biographies |publisher=gov.bc.ca |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>
The roles of the medical officer of health varies across jurisdictions,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cassola |first1=A. |last2=Fafard |first2=P. |last3=Nagi |first3=R |last4=Hoffman |first4=S. J. |year=2022 |title=Tensions and opportunities in the roles of senior public health officials in Canada: A qualitative study |journal=[[Health Policy (journal)|Health Policy]] |volume=126 |issue=10 |pages=988–995 |doi=10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.07.009|pmc=9296232 }}</ref> but always include responsibilities related to public health and safety, and may include the following functions:<ref>[http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/pubs/finance/_agree-accord/initiative_transfer/index-eng.php ''Role of the Medical Officer of Health.''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101030321/http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/pubs/finance/_agree-accord/initiative_transfer/index-eng.php |date=2012-01-01 }} Health Canada, accessed 16 January 2012.</ref> * responsibility for [[communicable disease]] control; * assessing environmental threats to human health; * providing leadership in public health emergency situations; * overseeing [[epidemiology|health surveillance]] activities; * providing expert advice on [[health promotion]] and disease prevention; * recommending and developing public [[health policy]].
==India== In [[India]], a medical officer generally has a minimum of [[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|MBBS]] degree or [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] degree from a recognised medical college and university and his/her name is registered in National Medical Council and in a state medical council. They are posted mainly at primary health centre and community health centres.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
==United Kingdom== {{Main|Chief Medical Officers (United Kingdom)}} {{See also|Medical Officer of Health for London}}In the [[United Kingdom]], the municipal position was an elected head of the [[local board of health]], however the term MOH has also been used to refer to the [[Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)|chief medical officer]]. Under the [[Metropolis Local Management Act 1855]], London municipalities were each required to appoint a medical officer. In 1856, 48 officers took up appointments in the city,<ref>{{cite book | title = The Epidemic Streets: Infectious Disease and the Rise of Preventive Medicine | page = 4 | author = Anne Hardy | year = 1993 | isbn = 0-19-820377-2 }}</ref> and these specialists formed [[Metropolitan Association of Medical Officers of Health]]. They were important and influential in the establishment of municipal hospitals under the provisions of the [[Local Government Act 1929]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Levene|first1=Alysa|last2=Powell|first2=Martin|last3=Stewart|first3=John|title=The Development of Municipal General Hospitals in English County Boroughs in the 1930s|journal=Medical History|date=January 2006|volume=1|issue=50|pages=3–28|pmc=1369011|pmid=16502869|doi=10.1017/s002572730000942x}}</ref> In the 1974 NHS reorganisation they were replaced by Community Physicians who were attached to the different levels of the NHS.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
==United States== {{See also|Surgeon General of the United States}} The [[Surgeon General of the United States|surgeon general of the United States]] is the senior health officer in the United States.
Health officer is a common term used in the United States for public health officials, such as medical health officers and [[environmental health officer]]s. They may serve at the global, federal, state, county, or municipal level.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}
The end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st saw major issues for health officials and health officers include [[tobacco control]],<ref>Nitzkin JL, Rodu B, 2008. [http://www.aaphp.org/special/joelstobac/20081026HarmReductionResolutionAsPassedl.pdf ''The case for harm reduction for control of tobacco-related illness and death''.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510170828/http://www.aaphp.org/special/joelstobac/20081026HarmReductionResolutionAsPassedl.pdf |date=2010-05-10 }} Resolution and White Paper, American Association of Public Health Physicians. Adopted October 26, 2008.</ref> [[injury prevention]], [[public health surveillance]], disease control, access to health care, [[health equity]], [[health disparities]], [[cultural competence]], access to preventive services such as [[immunization]]s and [[health promotion]].<ref name="RodneyGHood">{{cite web|title=Center for Minority Health /UPitt|publisher=cmp.pitt.edu|url=http://www.cmh.pitt.edu/aahpc07.asp|access-date=August 21, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807173732/http://www.cmh.pitt.edu/aahpc07.asp|archive-date=August 7, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Enews">{{cite web|title=AAPHP E news and bulletins |publisher=aaphp.org |url=http://www.aaphp.org/bulletincnt1.HTM |access-date=August 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211174221/http://aaphp.org/bulletincnt1.HTM |archive-date=February 11, 2009 }}</ref>
==See also== * [[Environmental health officer]] * [[National public health institutes]]
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite journal | author = Ashton J | year = 1989 | title = Recalling the Medical Officer of Health | url = http://www.johnrashton.securemachines.co.uk/documentbank/recalling%20the%20medical%20officer%20of%20health.pdf | journal = Health Promotion | volume = 3 | issue = 4| pages = 413–419 | doi=10.1093/heapro/3.4.413| pmc = 1711372 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120710194328/http://www.johnrashton.securemachines.co.uk/documentbank/recalling%20the%20medical%20officer%20of%20health.pdf | archive-date = 2012-07-10 }}
==External links== * [http://www.aaphp.org/ American Association of Public Health Physicians]
[[Category:Public health]] [[Category:Health care occupations]] [[Category:Water supply and sanitation in London]]