Public health developments and potentials: The International Public HealthCongress 1999 in Freiburg/Br., Germany

In October 1999 a big conference (about 1300 participants) on Public Health took place for the first time in Germany. The conference was aiming at giv ing a comprehensive survey of theory and practice of Public Health in Germa n-speaking countries. Four main topics were identified in about 550 contrib utions (workshops, posters and oral presentations): health care research, h ealth services research/health economics, prevention/health promotion and m ethods. Geographical and topical distribution of the contributions is prese nted.