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.
