The PHA was established in 2009 under a major reform of health structures in Northern Ireland.
We are a multi-disciplinary, multi-professional body with a strong regional and local presence. We have four key functions:
- health and social wellbeing improvement;
- health protection;
- public health support to commissioning and policy development;
- HSC research and development.
We were set up to provide a renewed and enhanced focus on public health and wellbeing by bringing together a wide range of public health functions under one organisation.
We are also required to create better inter-sectoral working, including enhanced partnership arrangements with local government, to tackle the underlying causes of poor health and reduce health inequalities.