While we can define health in many ways, it’s most practical to use an operational or working definition, which is the most widely accepted by scientists and policy makers. The World Health Organization’s constitution, adopted in 1977, defines health as a state of complete physical and mental well-being. The charter recognizes that health is not a matter of absence of disease, but rather the means of living. The WHO acknowledges that the lack of disease is a major cause of mortality.

Hence, a healthy person is a healthy person. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Promoting health is a social, economic, and political responsibility. People can contribute to the promotion of health by pursuing activities that are beneficial to their overall well-being, while limiting activities that are harmful to their physical and mental well-being. However, the definition proposed by Huber et al. (2011) is too individualistic and neglects broader determinants of health.

Public health activities are funded through donations and taxation by national governments. The practice of public health is the art and science of preventing disease and prolonging life. It requires the full cooperation of individuals and society. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health was established to produce a report on the concept of health in the digital age. This report has been published to improve our understanding of health and the role of the public sector in promoting it. Its findings should guide the practice of healthcare professionals and policymakers in promoting health worldwide.