The Hindu         03.01.2011

State to have a public health Act soon

Bill proposes a framework for surveillance of infectious diseases

The outbreak of A (H1N1) influenza in 2009 had caught the State health authorities unawares. In the absence of a proper surveillance mechanism, the health officials struggled to check the spread of the disease. Such situations could be a thing of the past soon as the Government is planning to come out with a public health Act.

Draft

The draft of the Karnataka Promotion of Public Health and Prevention of Diseases Bill has been prepared by officials of the Karnataka Health System Development and Reform Project (KHSDRP) in coordination with Karnataka Institute for Law and Parliamentary Reform.

Health rights

Aimed at providing a comprehensive legislative framework for ensuring public health in the State, the Bill proposes to bring in a strong framework for surveillance of infectious diseases. It also proposes to set in place a structure for better surveillance while ensuring that citizens are not denied their health rights.

KHSDRP Project Administrator S. Selva Kumar told The Hindu that the Mysore Public Health Act, 1944, which was enacted in the erstwhile State of Mysore for advancing public health, had served as a guide for framing the draft this Bill.

Pointing out that the process of consultations with civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and researchers had already begun, Mr. Selva Kumar said that care would be taken to incorporate suggestions and recommendations made by these organisations.

In Dharwad

“We recently held consultations with the Institute of Public Health and other like-minded organisations in Bangalore. The next one is scheduled to be held in Dharwad. We propose to complete consultations by this month-end and finalise the Bill in another month, after which it will be placed before the State Cabinet for approval,” he said.

Prashanth N.S., faculty at the Institute of Public Health, who along with other researchers participated in the consultation, said, “The Bill proposes to put in place a structure that will make officials accountable for any lapses. This will legally empower people to demand for their rights whenever there is service denial.”

‘Needs to be improved'

“Members of the study group feel that the current draft needs to be improved. It needs to take into consideration the progress done in drafting such legislations elsewhere in the country and the world over. The Assam Public Health Act, the Gujarat Public Health Bill, the National Health Bill are a few examples from which the draft of the Karnataka Promotion of Public Health and Prevention of Diseases Bill can take cues,” he said.

Pointing out that the draft does not mention anything about health information system, Dr. Prashanth said the legislation should provide a clear mandate for a robust health and hospital management information system that could be publicly accessible.

Public health agencies

“As per the draft, the State will have to set up public health agencies under public-private partnership. This will downplay the role of community and civil society organisations,” Dr. Prashanth added.