Defense Health Agency

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) is the U.S. Department of Defense’s joint combat support agency responsible for managing the Military Health System and ensuring service members are medically ready for any mission. It oversees more than 700 military hospitals and clinics worldwide and delivers health care to about 9.5 million beneficiaries through TRICARE. The DHA’s mission is to support national defense by improving health and building readiness, making high-quality care routine and exceptional outcomes standard. A full overview of how the DHA operates and its role in the military health system is available in Your Guide to the Defense Health Agency (DHA): Managing the Military Health System.

Core Mission and Healthcare Delivery

The DHA’s primary goal is to provide a medically ready force and a ready medical force for combatant commands in both peacetime and war. It integrates clinical and business operations across the Military Health System, working closely with the Army, Navy, and Air Force medical services. Through TRICARE, the DHA manages a global health care network that delivers care in military treatment facilities and in the civilian community, ensuring service members and their families receive timely, high-quality health care anywhere in the world.

Advancing Military Medicine and Readiness

Beyond direct care, the DHA leads medical research, public health programs, and medical education across the Department of Defense. It manages the Armed Services Blood Program, the Joint Trauma System, and forensic medical services, and it supports the training of military health professionals. By focusing on innovation, readiness, and patient-centered care, the DHA strengthens the health and combat effectiveness of the entire joint force.