Top 20 public health achievements of the 21st century

Public health has historically had a significant positive impact, improving the health and life course of the nation.

As far back as 1848, the Public Health Act was instrumental in introducing sanitation, refuse systems and medical officers into local areas. In the last two centuries, we have seen major advances in medicine, hygiene, technology, planning, infrastructure, food, and many other areas that influence the public’s health.

This has resulted in the average life expectancy in the UK for a female born between 2016 and 2018 of 82.9 years.

But what has public health achieved more recently? Although we are generally much healthier than people were 150 years ago, there is still more to be done to tackle the modern health issues facing us.

Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) have compiled a long list of public health interventions and achievements that took place during the first twenty years of the 21^st century in the UK. RSPH members voted, resulting in the shortlist which was ranked by senior public health professionals.

Take a look at the results.