Pennsylvania ranks 43rd of the 50 states in public health spending, according to a new report issued by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the organization Trust for America’s Health.
While the median annual public health expenditure per capita nation-wide is $27, Pennsylvania spends only $14 per capita on public health.
Public health encompasses such functions as protecting the water and food supplies, inspecting restaurants, promoting good health, guarding against environmental hazards, and tracking the spread of infectious diseases.
Read more about the state’s role in public health and why Pennsylvania rates so poorly compared to other states in this Allentown Morning Call article.