In this note, we discuss the concepts of policy, planning, and implementation & control decisions for program/project management in any organization and relate these to the core functions of public health program management. We describe the (i) policy making process through an illustration of the UNAIDS policies for HIV/AIDS programs, (ii) role of strategic planning through an illustration of the UNFPA strategies for adolescent health programs, (iii) importance of operational planning through an illustration of the WHO program DOTS for TB control, and (iv) the need for implementation, monitoring & control (surveillance) through an illustration of the WHO recommended ORS program of Bangladesh for diarrhoeal disease control. We end this note by highlighting certain salient features of public private partnership (PPP) for managing public health programs.