Population Health

Population health is an approach that addresses the entire range of factors that determine health and, by so doing, affects the health of the entire population.

The goal of Population Health Branch is the best possible health status for the entire population. To that end, the branch co-ordinates and encourages initiatives that promote and protect health and prevent disease and injury. As well, the branch actively supports research and evaluation into health status, health trends and the risks to and determinants of health.

 There is increasing understanding that many of the factors that determine health lie outside the control of the traditional health sector. These factors include the environment, family and social supports, economic status and individual behaviours. Population Health Branch works to promote awareness of these determinants among health providers and the public, as well as to develop and support strategies to address them.

Population health strategies are designed to address the needs of whole groups of people rather than focussing on individual needs. Accordingly, the branch works co-operatively with other departments, governments and independent agencies to implement such strategies and to support healthy public policy development at all levels of government.

The key roles of the branch are to:

• provide leadership in defining and implementing a vision for health and a framework for health systems
• assess, promote and protect the health of the Saskatchewan population
• ensure the provision of essential and appropriate public health services to Saskatchewan residents.

Contact Information

Population Health Branch
3475 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4S6X6
http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/ph_br_population_health.html