The Public Health etc (Scotland) Bill, aimed at modernising Scotland's public health legislation,which dates back to 1889, was published on october 26, 2007.
The proposed new legislation aims to ensure that organisations responsible for protecting public health are better equipped to protect Scotland from the threat of infectious diseases and contamination.
The Bill will bring in public health legislation into line with many other countries and ensure full compliance with the International Health Regulations 2005 which broaden the scope of action beyond infectious diseases to those caused by contamination (biological, chemical and radiological).
Key provision of the Bill include:
- Clarifying the roles and responsibilities of Scottish Ministers, health boards and local authorities for public health protection purposes
- Setting out notification arrangements for infectious diseases, organisms and health risk states
- Updating and strengthening existing powers of health boards to extend the exclusion of people from school and work, where there is a risk to public health, to a wider range of settings