Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) oversees 14 core public health offices — including the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service Corps — as well as 10 regional health offices across the nation and 10 Presidential and Secretarial advisory committees.
Progress Toward A Healthier Nation
On August 15, 2012, HHS issued a progress report on Ending the Tobacco Epidemic: A Tobacco Control Strategic Action Plan [PDF- 2.2 MB]. The new report documents the progress made in implementing the Plan and ultimately in achieving the Healthy People 2020 objectives.
- Ending the Tobacco Epidemic: Progress Toward A Healthier Nation [PDF - 1.96 MB]
Initiatives
Component offices of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health support many initiatives, campaigns, and programs that promote the goals of public health.
Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis:
Action Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a hidden epidemic with significant public health consequences. Learn more about the viral hepatitis initiative.
Ending the Tobacco Epidemic
The United States has made historic progress in combating the epidemic of tobacco-caused illness and death. Despite this progress, tobacco use remains the leading cause of premature and preventable death in our nation, responsible for 443,000 deaths each year. Read more about Ending the Tobacco Epidemic.
Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI)
Every day, about 1 in every 20 inpatients has an infection related to hospital care. These infections can lead to a significant amount of morbidity and mortality, with tens of thousands of lives lost each year. Find out more about the magnitude of the problem and the call to action on preventing Hospital-Associated Infections (HAIs).
HHS Initiative on Multiple Chronic Conditions
More than one in four Americans have multiple (two or more) concurrent chronic conditions (MCC) including, for example, arthritis, asthma, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, heart disease, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and hypertension. Get more information about HHS' initiative on multiple chronic conditions.
Public Health System, Finance, and Quality Program
The Public Health System, Finance, and Quality (PHSFQ) Program serves as an organizational center to connect, through a synergistic network, federal agencies and system partners on public health system-level issues of shared interest and mutual benefit. Learn more about the Public Health System, Finance, and Quality Program.