‘Equity’ no longer a priority for Florida Department of Health

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Department of Health is no longer listing equity as a top, or any, priority in its health goals, according to a report from the Miami Herald.

Florida, in 2017, prioritized focusing on “avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and health care disparities.”

But in 2022, under Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and DeSantis, equity was removed.

The Herald reported that the top priority area had to do with Alzheimer’s disease, and the sixth involved “social and economic conditions impacting health,” “but did not include any mention of race or ethnicity.”

Although the 22-page state health improvement plan lists correcting certain race-specific health outcomes as goals, the document makes no mention of “equity.”

The Miami Herald

Ladapo reportedly said “health equity” has a “political meaning” that has no place in addressing health problems.

He called it “imprecise.”

“It’s a term that really has grown to have more of a political meaning than a meaning related to health. But it’s the State Health Improvement Plan. So we will focus on health,” Ladapo said.

The Department of Health’s communications director, Nikki Whiting, mocked the Herald for its authors trying to “redefine what woke is in an attempt to Own DeSantis.”

“Racking up the Ws,” DeSantis’ “War Room” Twitter account said in reaction to the Herald’s report.

“I’m sorry this is happening to you,” Jeremy Redfern, deputy press secretary for DeSantis, said.

In 2017, Florida’s governor was Rick Scott, a Republican.

DeSantis appointed Ladapo in late 2021. He has routinely been skeptical of the effectiveness and safety of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, and opposed measures like masking and lockdowns.

Editors’ note: This story was updated to include comment from the Florida Department of Health’s communications director.