Contemporary Concept and Definition of Health Care

Abstract

Paper gives a historical and theoretical overview of understanding and contemporary concept of health care and various levels of prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary prevention) in terms of the natural course / history of disease. Special emphasize is given to the primary prevention and preventive medicine, what is disease, how to prevent it, to cure it, and to make its consequences less harmful. Specific examples and practices are presented for the specific measures for prevention of disease, control of risk factors, prevention of mental disorders in susceptible individuals or populations, protective procedures for communicable diseases control, as well as monitoring and regulation of environmental pollutants. Primary prevention is to be distinguished from secondary prevention, which is the prevention of complications or after-effects of a drug or surgical procedure, and tertiary prevention, the amelioration of the after-effects of a disease.