Which of the following best summarizes the primary difference between the medical model and the public health model of health?

• A. The medical model is population-focused and preventative, while the public health model is individual-focused and primarily treats disease.
• B. The medical model treats health as the absence of disease and focuses on individual clinical diagnosis and treatment, while the public health model focuses on population-level prevention and social determinants.
• C. The medical model emphasizes social and environmental causes of disease, while the public health model emphasizes only genetic and biological causes.
• D. The medical model prioritizes health promotion through policy and community programs, while the public health model prioritizes acute clinical care in hospitals.

Answer: (B)