Career in Public Health

Public Health is a career that focuses on protecting and improving health at the public level, prevention of diseases; and increasing the life expectancy of the public through organized efforts at a mass level. Public health experts improve the well-being of communities by focusing on all the sectors of society from food to transportation to healthcare delivery. This is a field with growing popularity, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic when the world realized the importance of public health experts. The degree programs in public health also gained popularity in Pakistan since then.

Nature of work of public health

People in the field of public health generally do the following things:

Monitor the health of the public and society at large
Manage the public health outbreaks and epidemics e.g. COVID 19
Diagnose and investigate the community health issues
Inform, educate, and empower the public to improve their health conditions and prevent diseases
Mobilize community partners
Develop policies and enforce laws to improve the health of communities
Act as a link between public and the government
Research on various issues regularly that can affect public health at large

Specializations in Public Health

Here is a list of common specializations in Public Health.

Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Environmental Health
Health Policy and Management
Global Health
Community Health
Maternal and Child Health
Occupational Health
Health Promotion and Education
Health Services Administration
Infectious Disease Control
Public Health Nutrition
Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences
Public Health Informatics
Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness

What degree is best for public health?

In Pakistan, BS, MS/MPhil, and PhD is offered in Public Health. In addition to that, certificate courses and Post graduate diploma is also offered. It is recommended to go for a masters degree in public health for good career prospects.

What is the scope of Bachelor/Master in public health in Pakistan?

Public health professionals can have a positive change in millions of people’s lives through their knowledge and skills. You can easily work in a variety of sectors like non-profit organisations (NGOs), private/ government healthcare systems, educational institutes, and research centres. 

There are many benefits of studying public health because this field offers multiple career prospects for your bright future.Currently, there is a huge scope for Public Health graduates and professionals abroad. The career prospects for them are also increasing in Pakistan.

Job Market

There is a wide range of job opportunities available for public health graduates in both international and local organizations.

Here are some UN agencies operating in Pakistan in which public health graduates can find jobs:

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
World Food Programme (WFP)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
World Health Organization (WHO)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Similarly here are some International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) working in Pakistan that provide very good job prospects for Public Health graduates:

Save the Children
Oxfam
CARE International
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Plan International
World Vision International
Mercy Corps
Action Against Hunger
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Islamic Relief Worldwide

Apart from these, there is a long list of local organizations working in Pakistan that offer jobs to Public Health professionals.

Career Opportunities

Public health graduates can work in the following roles after their degree:

Nutrition Intervention Project Head
Lady Health Worker
Public Health Manager
Nutrition Guidelines Development Consultant
Chief Medical Officer
Disease Intervention Specialist
Epidemiologist
Clinical Infectious Disease Specialist
Nutrition Intervention Officer
Disease Eradication Officer
Government Programme Coordinator
Public Health Advisor
Healthcare Administrator
Researcher or Professor

What is the highest paying job in public health and what is the salary of BS in public health in Pakistan?

The salary of Public Health professionals vary from sector to sector and it also depends on the knowledge and skills of person. Job opportunities and career opportunities available in International organizations like United Nations (UN) offer lucrative salaries with a lot of other facilities required for a luxurious lifestyle. Public Health professionals are paid in dollars that makes it even more beneficial for living. The NGOs and local organizations also offer decent amount of money to public health officers.

It is very important to choose this field only if you have an aptitude for it and it matches with your long-term goals. Book an appointment now for Aptitude Assessment to choose the right career. Call at 0333-5766716