[The national institutes of public health in the contemporary world].

The article analyses the modern international experience of organization and functioning of medical research institutions known as the national institutes of public health. The role of these institutes in the development of health policy and reforms is exemplified on such countries as Hungary, Great Britain. USA, Peru and Japan. It is demonstrated that the national institutes of public health are involved into research of the key issues of population health and health care. In certain countries these institutions are combined into the National network of public health institutes. The actuality and need for such kind of institutions in Russia is demonstrated.