HI SR66

Requests the Department of Health to require that each district health officer be a physician licensed to practice medicine under Part I of Chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Notes that the County of Hawaii district health officer position was filled by a non-physician for six years, leading to the creation of a new "district health officer II (non-M.D.)" position.

Cites an Office of the Auditor report (No. 17-14, December 2017) that found the Disease Outbreak Control Division lacked adherence to plans, policies, and protocols during disease outbreak responses.

References disparities in the Department of Health's response to public health crises, comparing the physician-led response in Maui County (dengue fever in 2002, rat lungworm disease) to the non-physician-led response in Hawaii County (2004 dengue fever outbreak, current rat lungworm crisis in Puna district).

Directs transmission of certified copies of this resolution to the Director of Health and the Chairperson of the Hawaii County Council.