Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Public Health: How can GIS facilitate demand-based planning of healthcare and targeted prevention strategies?

Healthcare and prevention strategies are often planned based on the assumption that demand for healthcare and risk populations for diseases are the same everywhere. However, most health problems and associated risk factors vary widely across regions. The main question of this thesis was therefore: Can we plan healthcare and prevention strategies more effectively by acknowledging geographic aspects? Analysing four diseases with GIS answered this question. The results emphasize that a one-size-fits-all approach is not very effective for both, planning and allocation of healthcare and prevention strategies. Future public health policies need to acknowledge that geographic aspects are important determinants of health and should aim future interventions more towards local needs.