The Illinois Department of Public Health was created in 1877 to regulate medical practitioners and to promote sanitation. Today, IDPH is responsible for protecting the state's 12.4 million residents, as well as countless visitors, through the prevention and control of disease and injury. The Department's nearly 200 programs touch virtually every age, aspect and cycle of life.
Public health means different things to different people.
Combined, these vital programs and services make up Illinois' public health system, a system that bears major responsibility for the quality of life in the state. You can learn more about the Illinois Department of Public Health by exploring our World Wide Web site. Feel free to browse and if you have questions or comments, please drop us a line.