medisin

Medisin is the science and practice concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease in humans and, in some contexts, animals. It encompasses clinical medicine, pharmacology, pathology, public health, and related biomedical sciences. The aim is to improve health outcomes and reduce suffering through evidence-based interventions, safe medication use, and preventive care.

The term derives from Latin medicina. In Norwegian, medisin is commonly used to refer to medicine or the medical field; in other languages the spelling varies (medicin or medicina). The scope includes hospital medicine, primary care, diagnostics, laboratory sciences, and medical research.

Historically, medicine emerged in ancient civilizations and was systematized in classical Greece and Rome. The modern practice advanced with the development of germ theory, vaccines, antibiotics, and medical imaging. Education typically involves extensive training in medical science, clinical skills, and professional ethics, followed by licensure and ongoing certification for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health professionals.

Contemporary medicine emphasizes evidence-based practice, clinical trials, drug development and safety, and patient-centered care. Pharmacology and therapeutics study how medicines work and how they should be used. Regulatory agencies oversee medicines and therapies to ensure safety, efficacy, and quality. Global health focuses on access, equity, and the responsible use of medical resources.

Emerging areas include personalized or precision medicine, digital health, telemedicine, genomics, and biotechnology, which aim to tailor care to individuals and improve public health outcomes.