CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS, DEFINITIONS, AND OPERATIONALIZATION OF KEY PUBLIC HEALTH CONCEPTS IN THE PROCESS OF SYSTEM FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING

Abstract

The article presents the findings of a study on the evolution and conflicting interpretations of key concepts in the field of public health: «public health», «public health system», «public as health care» and their impact on the formation of a national public health system in Ukraine. The study proves that the lack of consensus in interpreting these key concepts hinders the development of an effective national public health system. It highlights discrepancies in the definitions of these concepts across legislative acts, scholarly sources, and international standards, which, in turn, complicates the development of effective policies, resource planning, cross-sectoral and intersectoral collaboration, and the achievement of the ultimate goal–stabilizing the demographic situation, preserving, and strengthening the health of the country's population.

Based on an analysis of legal and regulatory documents (1991–2024), comparisons with international approaches (WHO, EU), and expert assessments, the study justifies the need to: harmonize terminology with European standards; develop a unified glossary for legislative initiatives; raise professionals' awareness of modern concepts.

The research demonstrates that clear definitions are critically important for building an effective public health system aimed at stabilizing the demographic situation, improving health, and meeting the population's needs for all public health services. Special attention is paid to the influence of historical context, European integration requirements, and modern challenges (war, migration) on the formation of terminology.