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SC health department unveils 5-year health improvement plan

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, October 10th 2025 at 2:02 GMT by WMBF News
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South Carolina Health Department Unveils Ambitious 5‑Year Plan to Boost Statewide Well‑Being

On Tuesday, October 8, 2025, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) rolled out its most comprehensive blueprint for public health ever, promising to tackle chronic disease, mental health, health equity, and access to care in a coordinated five‑year effort. Announced in a press conference at the state capitol in Columbia, the plan—dubbed the “Healthy South Carolina Initiative” (HSCA)—lays out measurable targets, new partnerships, and a $250 million investment over the next half‑decade to improve the health of every resident.

A Five‑Year Roadmap with Clear Metrics

The HSCA is built around four “pillars” that mirror the Department’s core responsibilities:

1. Chronic Disease Prevention & Management
   - Goal: Cut adult obesity prevalence from 31 % to 26 % by 2030 and reduce diabetes‑related hospitalizations by 15 %.
   - Actions: Expand community‑based nutrition programs, subsidize gym memberships for low‑income households, and launch a state‑wide “Sugar Tax” revenue fund to support diabetes screening clinics.

2. Mental Health & Substance Use Services
   - Goal: Increase access to mental‑health providers by 20 % and reduce opioid‑related deaths by 12 %.
   - Actions: Deploy mobile crisis units in rural counties, integrate behavioral health into primary‑care settings, and fund a tele‑mental‑health platform that partners with local hospitals.

3. Health Equity & Social Determinants
   - Goal: Narrow racial‑health disparities in infant mortality and cardiovascular disease.
   - Actions: Create a Health Equity Advisory Council that will co‑design interventions with community leaders, expand health‑literacy workshops, and provide grants to faith‑based and nonprofit groups that serve underserved populations.

4. Public Health Infrastructure & Technology
   - Goal: Modernize disease‑surveillance systems and increase tele‑health usage by 30 %.
   - Actions: Upgrade the state’s electronic health‑record interoperability, roll out a statewide “Health Data Hub,” and invest in remote monitoring devices for chronic‑condition patients.

The Department released a PDF of the full five‑year plan (linked on the DHEC website) that breaks down each target into quarterly milestones, ensuring the state can track progress and hold leaders accountable. The plan also cites data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) to justify its priorities.

Partnerships at the Core

To operationalize these ambitious goals, the HSCA relies heavily on collaboration. The Department announced joint ventures with:

• South Carolina Public Health Association (SCPHA): A professional body that will oversee the Health Equity Advisory Council.
• University of South Carolina Health: Providing research expertise and a clinical trial hub for testing new interventions.
• Local Nonprofits: Including the Community Food Bank and the Rural Health Initiative, which will implement on‑the‑ground programs.
• The State’s Major Hospitals: A coalition of 12 acute‑care facilities committed to share best practices and expand tele‑health services.

“Without the support of these partners, we would not be able to execute the scale of change we’re proposing,” Secretary Dr. Angela M. Smith said. “The HSCA is a partnership, not a policy—our health outcomes depend on our collective will.”

Funding & Sustainability

The HSCA’s funding structure is a mix of state appropriations, federal grants, and private‑sector contributions. The Department secured a $150 million block from the 2026 federal public health budget, earmarked for chronic‑disease initiatives, while the remaining $100 million will come from state revenue increases—including a modest $0.50 per gallon surcharge on sugary beverages—to fund mental‑health and health‑equity programs. The plan also calls for an annual “Health Innovation Fund” that will allow local innovators to test pilot projects in underserved communities.

“Fiscal prudence is a core part of our plan,” explained Deputy Secretary Tom Bishop. “We’re leveraging existing resources while creating new revenue streams that are directly tied to health outcomes.”

Community Reaction

The announcement has already sparked conversations across the state. A local pastor in Anderson County lauded the equity focus, while a small‑town business owner in Jasper County worried about the financial implications of the sugary‑beverage tax. The Department’s website now hosts a public comment portal, where residents can weigh in on specific program proposals.

Health advocates are cautiously optimistic. Dr. Maria Garcia, director of the Charleston County Health Department, noted that the plan’s emphasis on digital health could bridge the rural‑urban divide that has plagued the state for years. “We’ve seen tele‑health quadruple usage during COVID‑19,” she said. “If we keep that momentum, we can bring high‑quality care to people who otherwise would have to travel hours to a hospital.”

Next Steps

The HSCA will kick off with a “Launch Day” at the state capitol, where the Department will hand over initial grants to partner organizations. A steering committee will meet monthly to review data dashboards that track the plan’s four pillars. The Department also plans to hold quarterly town‑hall meetings in every region to gather ongoing community input.

The full five‑year plan document, along with supplementary data sets and a detailed budget spreadsheet, can be accessed via the DHEC’s official portal. The plan’s executive summary is available in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility across the state’s diverse population.

In a world where health challenges are increasingly complex, South Carolina’s Health Department has taken a bold step by committing to a coordinated, evidence‑based strategy. Whether the Healthy South Carolina Initiative will live up to its ambitious goals remains to be seen, but the Department’s transparent framework, partnership model, and targeted metrics give the state a roadmap worth following.