The Defense Health Agency – A Combat Support Agency
DHA Mission Statement: As a Combat Support Agency, the DHA leads the Military Health System's integration of readiness and health to deliver the Quadruple Aim:
- Increased readiness
- Better health
- Better care
- Lower cost
The DHA is the nation’s medical combat support agency, providing or augmenting medical capabilities of the Combatant Commands, the military services, federal partners and partners and allies around the world. As one of the Defense Department’s combat support agencies, DHA works to provide combat forces with capabilities they do not possess, or possess in insufficient quantity. In cooperation with the Joint Staff Surgeon and Military Department medical organizations, DHA leads the Department of Defense integrated system of readiness and health through a global health care network of military and civilian medical professionals, including more than 400 military hospitals and clinics around the world, to improve and sustain operational medical force readiness and the medical readiness of the Armed Forces.
Enhancing Military Readiness through DHA Combat Support Capabilities
The DHA provides support for operating forces engaged in planning for, or conducting, military operations, including support during conflict or in the conduct of other military activities related to countering threats to U.S. national security. Among DHA’s most important combat support responsibilities is its work to increase readiness of U.S. forces to carry out their deployed missions. DHA supports the medical readiness of military personnel – ensuring they are healthy and safe from potential health threats through activities such as its global network of hospitals and clinics and civilian health providers, medical surveillance to detect potential health threats. DHA also supports a ready medical force – the physicians, nurses and other health professionals – who support operational forces in the field, through training and education and providing the clinical settings in which they build their skills for deployment.
The DHA fulfills its CSA responsibilities through capabilities including several components that provide crucial expertise and support to the Combatant Commands. The DHA’s liaison officers within Combatant Commands enable direct contact with DHA, help the DHA better understand Combatant Command needs, and give the Combatant Commands better understanding of DHA capabilities.
The DHA is a critical enabler, working with the Military Departments to advance the health and readiness of U.S. forces and to manage the medical readiness platforms that keep the medical force ready to support operations worldwide.
Working in close coordination with the Joint Staff Surgeon, the DHA provides medical-related combat support capabilities that apply across all phases of military operations, including:
Enterprise Support Activities
DHA supports the Military Departments and the Combatant Commands through the provision of enterprise support activities, providing medical capabilities across the Joint Force. Those activities include:
DHA At-a-Glance
- On Oct. 1, 2018, began a four-year transition to assume authority, direction and control of the DoD’s more than 400 clinics, hospitals, and medical centers.
- Currently Operates 10 enterprise support activities at the DHA HQ level to ensure standardization across the Military Health System.
- Manages procurement and distribution of an $11 billion a year medical supply chain including about 560,000 medical devices, for the Joint Force.
- Enables a global network of military and civilian health care professionals to provide care to 9.6 million service members, retirees and family members.
Department of Defense Directive 3000.06, Effective July 8, 2016, Combat Support Agencies