South Carolina’s DHEC Splits Into Two Agencies
In an unprecedented move, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will be split into two distinct agencies, this will come into effect beginning on July 1.
A New Dawn for Environmental and Health Services
The two newly-formed organizations to be birthed from the former DHEC are the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) and the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). This structural rearrangement is in full compliance with state laws and stems from the need to streamline operations towards the conservation of the environment and provision of public health services, respectively.
Essential Functions of the New Agencies
The SCDES will seamlessly assume the environmental responsibilities formerly managed by the DHEC. The new agency will govern areas such as air quality, coastal management, land & waste management, and water, along with regional and laboratory services. Thus, SCDES continues the previous structures, showing commitment to preserving the environment for future generations of South Carolinians.
Meanwhile, the DPH, responsible for public health services, will contain two core divisions – Health Promotion and Services, and Healthcare Quality. Despite the new structuring, the department ensures that access to services such as birth certificates issuance and immunization requests remains uninterrupted.
The Vision for a Healthier South Carolina
Interim Director of the DPH and previous Director of the DHEC, Dr. Edward Simmer, expressed his optimism about the future of the agencies and their impact on South Carolina citizens. He said, “Our name may change, but our commitment to serving and improving the lives of everyone in South Carolina is stronger than ever. DPH will build on DHEC’s legacy, continuously innovating to achieve best practices that help improve our state’s overall health rankings to achieve our goal of becoming the healthiest state in our nation.”
Changes for Other State Programs
In addition to the split, the DHEC also announced the transition of the department’s current retail food program and the milk and dairy lab to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. This transition aims to optimize the management of food safety and quality across the state.
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
