Health department seeks $161.4 million for FY26, highlights Northeast health center expansion and Philly Joy Bank pilot

Philadelphia — The Philadelphia Department of Public Health asked City Council on Monday to approve a $161,380,904 general fund operating proposal for fiscal year 2026, an increase of $6,186,599 from FY25 estimated obligations, Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Veil Nelson said.

The increase is “due primarily to $6,552,616 funding to support our health center expansion to increase capacity and provide increased access to health care in Northeast Philadelphia,” Nelson said in testimony to the Committee of the Whole. The department is requesting 1,091 budgeted positions across all funds for FY26 — nine more than FY25 — split among general fund, hospital assessment tax–funded, and grant-funded positions.

The request, Nelson said, supports core public-health services including primary care, vaccination programs, outbreak investigation, restaurant inspections, lead-hazard remediation, air-quality work and vector control. “The mission of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health is to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians and to provide a safety net for people who are disproportionately impacted,” Nelson said. “We want Philadelphians to thrive, not just survive.”

Nut graf: The budget increase is targeted to expand clinical capacity in underresourced neighborhoods while maintaining citywide preventive programs. Council members pressed department leaders about vaccination preparedness for large events, the department’s pilot programs, and how equity priorities such as maternal and infant health factor into the FY26 plan.

Key items from DPH testimony

- Health-center expansion: Nelson identified Northeast Philadelphia as a priority for added capacity; the department said long appointment waits at existing centers demonstrate the need.

- Philly Joy Bank pilot: Launched in 2024 to support pregnant Philadelphians, the pilot has enrolled 250 participants. Nelson said the program is not yet through a full evaluation cycle; the department is preparing an evaluation and will share results when available.

- Vaccination and event preparedness: Nelson and disease-control staff said the department has convened a regional surveillance group with neighboring jurisdictions and hospitals to prepare for next summer’s events, noting measles as a particular concern. Jessica Com, disease-control division director, described plans to notify and equip emergency departments and urgent cares through the Health Alert Network.

- Lead-hazard remediation and air quality: Nelson said the department received additional funding for lead-hazard remediation where children have tested positive for lead poisoning, and that Air Management Services has rolled out training for scrapyard operators to prevent fires and dangerous emissions during the city’s busy event season.

- Food safety and inspections: Nelson explained the department’s risk-based approach to food inspections and cited ongoing work to improve language access for vendors during inspections.

Council questions and follow-ups

Council members repeatedly returned to equity topics: maternal and infant health, gun-violence prevention framed as a public-health issue, and capacity in the Northeast. Nelson committed to provide more detail on gun-violence injury-prevention work and to follow up with evaluation results for the Joy Bank pilot once the evaluation is complete.

What council asked for next

Nelson agreed to provide the council president’s office with additional materials requested during the hearing, including vaccination-rate comparisons with surrounding counties (which the department said would require coordination with the state), and links to the injury-prevention dashboard.

Ending: The department’s full written testimony was provided to council. Nelson thanked members for support and said department staff stand ready to follow up with the requested data.