Role of Master of Public Health Advanced Program in Acceleration of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention in Slovakia

Public health, health promotion and protection, and quality of life have become the most important issue in Slovakia. The Slovak government based on the WHO Health for all policy, adopted in 1999 the national health support program “Health for all in 21th century”. The ageing of populations, mainly due to falling fertility rates and increasing child survival, is an underlying determinant of non-communicable disease epidemics. Non-communicable diseases contribute substantially to adult mortality with the highest rates being in Central and Eastern European countries. The Master of Public Health advanced program of the Faculty of Public Health is a part-time study course eligible for graduates from humanities and social sciences as well as doctors of medicine who wish to specialise in public health and who seek an employment in health care sector in leading position in the state health administration, specialised public health institutions, hospitals and central institution dealing with health protection. The MPH three year study program is divided into three thematic parts and 14 modules. It has been revised according to the internationally recognised The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPHER) standards. The MPH study program is focused on hygiene, health promotion and health education, epidemiology of infectious and non-communicable diseases, disease prevention, occupational health, health legislation and health policy, health management and surveillance, health economy and international health care policy. The lecturers are opinion leaders in epidemiology and prevention. They are experienced coordinators responsible for national programs in prevention of non-communicable diseases. So far they have shared their knowledge with more than 500 MPH graduates. Graduates have become substantial contribution to state health administration and public health authorities.  They competently realize public health policy in Slovakia and make crucial decisions in prevention of non-communicable diseases.