A major transformation is taking place at South Carolina’s top health agency, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Starting from July 1st, the agency will become the Department of Public Health (DPH). This change comes after a decision by the General Assembly and Governor Henry McMaster to split up the agency and create a separate health department.
Dr. Edward Simmer, who has been appointed as the interim director of the new South Carolina Department of Public Health, explained that last year, Act 60 was passed in South Carolina’s legislature which directed DHEC to split into two agencies – the South Carolina Public Health and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. With this change, most of what was previously offered by DHEC’s health services will now be encompassed under the new Department of Public Health.
It is important to note that this transition will not affect the quality of service provided to residents in South Carolina. The services at health departments will remain unchanged in terms of locations, staff and trustworthiness. However, with this new formation, there will be a greater focus on outreach and engagement by connecting with various community groups and stakeholders statewide.
The ultimate goal for Dr. Simmer and his team is to improve South Carolina’s health ranking which currently stands at 45th out of 50 states. He aims to make South Carolina number one for health across all measures but acknowledges that achieving this goal will take time. On July 1st, we look forward to seeing how this transition unfolds as it pushes towards a future with improved health outcomes for our state.
