A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their own. Health departments perform food inspections and other health related inspections (the person who performs this job is often called a public health inspector), vaccination programs, free STD and HIV tests, tobacco enforcement and cessation programs, and other medical assistance programs. Health departments also compile statistics about health issues within their area. The role of a health department may vary from one country to the other, but their primary objective is always the same; safeguarding and promoting health. In 1986, several of the world's national health departments met to establish an international guideline by which health departments operate. The meeting was in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and hence the guidelines established are known as the Ottawa Charter. The Ottawa Charter was designed to 'achieve Health for All'.
"Health department" can also refer to a university health department.
Around the world
Most executive governments in the world are divided into departments or ministries. In Canada, Health Canada is the federal agency in charge of healthcare. The first ministry of health in Canada was established by legislation in the province of New Brunswick in 1918, making it the first cabinet-level Department of Health in the British Empire, with Dr. William F. Roberts of Saint John, N.B. as the first Minister of Health in the British Empire.
In the People's Republic of China, the China Health Ministry initially oversaw healthcare before it was dissolved. The majority of its functions have now been integrated into a new agency called the National Health Commission. In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health supervises the country's health departments and agencies under it, most of which are located in Abuja, the country's capital.
United States Health Departments
Programs and services
In the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for coordinating health programs in the country. With more than 100 programs and services, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) aims to "protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves." These federal programs consist of social service programs, civil rights and healthcare privacy programs, disaster preparedness programs, and health related research. HHS offers a variety of social service programs geared toward persons with low income, disabilities, military families, and senior citizens. Healthcare rights are defined under HHS in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which protect patient's privacy in regards to medical information. HHS collaborates with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Office of Emergency Management to prepare and respond to health emergencies. A broad array of health related research is supported or completed under the HHS; secondarily under HHS, the Health Resources & Service Administration houses data warehouses and makes health data available surrounding a multitude of topics. HHS also has vast offering of health related resources and tools. Some examples of available resources include disease prevention, wellness, health insurance information, as well as links to healthcare providers and facilities, meaningful health related materials, and public health and safety information.
Health departments in the United States
There are several tiers of health departments in America: federal, state, tribal, insular areas, freely associated states, and local levels. In relation with state and local government, the federal government provides states with funding to ensure that states are able to retain current programs and are able to implement new programs. The coordination between all three levels is critical to ensure the programs being implemented are well structured for each level. The health department at state level needs to safeguard good relations with legislators as well as governors in order to acquire legal and financial aid to guarantee the development and enhancements of the programs. Assemblies are set up to guide the relationships between state and local health departments. The state sets up the regulations and health policies whereas the local health departments are the ones implementing the health policies and services.
List of Public Health departments in the United States
Federal
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, renamed in 1980 from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW))
State
Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (ADHSS)
Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS)
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
Connecticut State Department of Public Health (CSDPH)
Delaware Division of Public Health (DDPH)
District of Columbia Department of Health (DCDH)
Florida Department of Health (FDH)
Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH)
Hawaii State Department of Health (HSDH)
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW)
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH)
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH)
Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)
Maine Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)
Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH)
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS)
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (MDPHHS)
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS)
Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (NDPBH)
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS)
New Jersey Department of Health (NJDH)
New Mexico Department of Health (NMDH)
New York State Department of Health (NYSDH)
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
North Dakota Department of Health (NDDH)
Ohio Department of Health (ODH)
Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH)
Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division (OHA)
Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH)
Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDH)
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC)
South Dakota Department of Health (SDDH)
Tennessee Department of Health (TDH)
Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS)
Utah Department of Health (UDH)
Vermont Department of Health (VDH)