The Betrayal of Public Health During The Covid Pandemic
by Dr Alan Mordue MB ChB, FFPH (Ret) During this Covid pandemic I have heard much in the media from 'public health experts' and 'public health officials', but rarely from colleagues in my own specialty – Public Health! This is very surprising since the specialty, which I practised for 28 years as a Consultant in England and Scotland before my retirement in 2016, usually leads the management of all outbreaks of infectious diseases in the U.K., and also has had the responsibility for leading the production of pandemic plans in the U.K. But is there any difference between a Public Health (PH) official, expert and specialist? Certainly you wouldn't think so listening to most broadcast media. Here are my definitions: So these three groups are very different. Only one group has undertaken an in-depth specialist training and has theoretical and practical experience in outbreak control and management (as well as other areas of PH specialist practice). When a PH 'expert' expresses views in the media about the management of the Covid pandemic it is therefore essential to know a little about their background training and experience. Even if they have an exalted title like 'professor', their chair may be in anthropology or their main experience in nutrition or dentistry. This is not to dismiss the contributions of diverse disciplines – given the...