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Department of Public Health

What we do

The mission of the Department of Public Health is to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians and to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable.

Our department:

  • Provides high-quality medical care at City health centers.
  • Prevents the spread of illness and infectious disease.
  • Protects against environmental hazards.
  • Encourages healthy behaviors to prevent chronic disease.
  • Plans and responds to health emergencies.
  • Ensures the quality and accessibility of health services.
  • Sets health policy.
  • Collects, analyzes, and reports on a variety of public health data.

Two boards provide us with guidance on policy and regulatory issues: the Board of Health and the Air Pollution Control Board. Our Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews research studies that involve human subjects.

The Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) determines the cause and manner of death for sudden, unexpected, and unnatural deaths in Philadelphia.

 

The City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, sex, age, religion, or sexual orientation in the administration of its programs and activities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Please visit Title VI Nondiscrimination Policy to learn more, including guidance of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Connect

Address
1101 Market St.
13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone
Social

Programs

Events

  • May
    19
    Free STI testing at West Philadelphia Resource Hub
    10:00 am to 3:00 pm
    ECS St Barnabas Mission, 6006 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19151, USA

    Free STI testing at West Philadelphia Resource Hub

    May 19, 2026
    10:00 am to 3:00 pm, 5 hours
    ECS St Barnabas Mission, 6006 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19151, USA
    map
  • May
    19
    Free food distribution at Southwest Philadelphia Resource Hub
    11:00 am to 2:00 pm
    Bethany Baptist Church, 5749 Warrington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143, USA

    Free food distribution at Southwest Philadelphia Resource Hub

    May 19, 2026
    11:00 am to 2:00 pm, 3 hours
    Bethany Baptist Church, 5749 Warrington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143, USA
    map
  • May
    20
    Philadelphia Board of Health Public Meeting
    6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

    Philadelphia Board of Health Public Meeting

    May 20, 2026
    6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, 1 hour
    Notice is hereby given that the City of Philadelphia Board of Health will hold a Public Meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 6:30 PM.  This meeting will be held virtually. The public is invited to participate. The meeting will be recorded and will be posted on the Health Department's YouTube channel for viewing. The agenda for this public meeting will be posted 24 hours in advance of the meeting at https://www.phila.gov/departments/board-of-health/regulations-and-meeting-minutes/.

    To register to attend the virtual meeting please visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/p8-hOD94RNWU2MJ3JNPhYQ. If you have questions, please e-mail boh@phila.gov.

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