REPUBLIC OF PERILO MINISTRY OF HEALTH

The Ministry of Health safeguards the health of the citizens of the Republic.

DEPARTMENTS:  Approximately 4000 employees conduct the programs of the Central Office of the Ministry and the five Health Districts.  Ministry Departments include:

• Animal Health - conducts epidemiological work in animal populations, undertakes disease control programs to protect the life and health of animals, and assists in the evacuation and care of animal populations in disaster.
• Chief Medical Examiner - determines medicolegal status of death in all unexpected or sudden deaths, and manages response to all mass fatality incidents within the Republic.
• Communicable Disease - includes Bureaus of Epidemiology (concerned with the detection and tracking of diseases), Immunization (conducts immunization activities as a routine health precaution and in response to disease outbreaks), Sexually Transmitted Diseases (concerned with venereal disease prevention and HIV/AIDS containment), and Vector Control (to monitor and control disease vectors).
• Community Health Service - trains, supplies, and funds two person teams consisting of a Community Health Aide and an Emergency Trauma Technician.  These Community Health Teams are located in all rural villages and in lower income neighborhoods of urban areas to provide health education and initial response to medical problems for populations that might otherwise not enter the health care system.
• Emergency Medical Services - establishes standards and regulations for the provision of pre-hospital medical care, regulates agencies that operate ambulance services, and overseas the training and licensing of pre-hospital care providers.  The Bureau of Emergency Operations is responsible for coordinating disaster planning and response within the Ministry of Health.
• Hazardous Substances - includes the Bureaus of Chemical Hazards and of Radiological Health.
• Immigration Medical Service - provides surveillance of immigrant populations and verifies the health status of those entering the Republic.
• Health Care Professions - establishes standards for and administers the licensing and continuing education of health professionals.  The Bureau of Traditional Healers registers traditional health practitioners who use naturopathic and spiritual healing and encourages their integration with Community Health Teams to provide wholistic services in underserved areas.
• Hospitals - establishes standards for, inspects, and licenses hospitals, free standing medical clinics, refugee medical clinics, and long term care facilities.  The Bureau of Readiness assists hospitals in the development of effective disaster response capabilities. 
• Mental Health and Mental Retardation - provides services to those affected by mental illness or who are born with mental disabilities, and operates the five Provincial level mental health hospitals.  Provides mental health disaster teams to serve responders and victims in major disasters.
• Mothers and Infants - conducts programs to reduce maternal distress and infant death, to increase the incidence of health births, and to support mothers and infants nutritionally.
• Occupational Health - develops regulations and conducts programs to ensure safe work environments.
• Sanitation - includes the Bureaus of Water Supply (concerned with supply of potable water), Sewerage (concerned with sewer and waste disposal systems), Public Sanitation (concerned with sanitary living conditions), Safe Food (concerned with food safety in markets and restaurants), and Fisheries Sanitation (concerned with safe sources for fish and shellfish).
• Substance Abuse - conducts programs to reduce substance abuse, including alcohol, smoking, and dependence on addictive drugs.

HEALTH DISTRICTS: Each  Province and the National Capital Region is served by a Health District.  Health District Directors conduct preventive health programs within their Districts, administer the Community Health Teams, and work in concert with District Medical Examiners to provide a healthy environment for the citizens.  Although not all services are conducted by each Health District, in each case the District provides a portal of entry to national level programs.  Within Health Districts local offices in some villages and all towns and cities are located to provide access by the citizens to Ministry services.

COMMISSIONED CORPS:  Licensed health professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and veterinarians  employed by the Ministry of Health are members of the Public Health Commissioned Corps and hold rank titles according to the Perilan standard Uniformed Services Rank structure based on their level of employment within the Ministry.  The Minister of Health holds the rank of Commodore.  Commissioned Corps officers augment the medical services of the armed forces in wartime.