What is the purpose of the Evaluation Framework in public health?

• A. To monitor only health outcomes
• B. To publish annual health rankings
• C. To assess health outcomes, utilization, costs, sustainability, and cross-sector effects
• D. To standardize funding allocations

Answer: (C)

Evaluating public health programs uses a framework that measures multiple dimensions to guide learning and decisions. The best choice captures not only health outcomes but also how services are used (utilization), what it costs (and value), whether the program can be sustained over time (sustainability), and effects that spill over into other sectors (cross-sector effects). This broad view helps determine what works, for whom, and under what conditions, and it informs improvements, budgeting, and long-term planning. Focusing only on health outcomes misses important pieces like affordability and scalability, while publishing annual rankings or standardizing funding allocations are more about communication or budgeting decisions, not the full evaluative purpose of understanding overall impact.