This paper concentrates on the port folio of public health services in the National Health System, with an inventory of those provided by the central level of government in the currently decentralized context of Spain. There is an important activity in public health, with some dispersion among different bodies and organisations. Most of the current activities of the central level of government concentrate in monitoring health levels and their determinants, managing information systems and health alerts and warnings, but with an involvement in policy development, both as a counterpart of the European Union and as an active agent with both regional levels of government and other organisations influencing public health. Besides, this level of government assures some essential services with little visibility for the general population as they are mostly delivered to other public administrations or to professional groups.