Public involvement, or PI, is the term for involving lay people (members of the general public) as volunteers or employees in an organisation's high level work. In the health / care context, it is a worldwide initiative to give the public an effective, active role in health / care research. The term "health / care" (or "health and care") covers healthcare (medical care), public health, and social care. The purpose is to align research more closely with patients' and the public’s needs, skills and experience and thereby increase its success and cost-effectiveness.