Doctors call for passing of changes to Public Health Act

If implemented, these changes could add more teeth to the Act and avert outbreaks apart from increasing accountability of all parties involved —including health authorities and the community.

“With the monsoon around the corner and the city bracing for a number of health issues, the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act that dates back to 1939 seems to be an effective deterrent. From increased penalty for mosquitoes and fly breeding to an added list of notifiable and infectious diseases, a complete overhaul was proposed with amendments by an expert committee almost six years ago. But till date, there has been no action taken to implement these,” says Dr S Elango, President, Indian Public Health Association, Tamil Nadu. 

Dr Elango has been part of the group that examined in detail the Act, which has been amended in parts over the years, since its first implementation. The committee has taken into consideration the changes in climate and diseases that have surfaced over the years, some of them assuming pandemic proportions.  Dr Elango says, “There are a number of diseases like cholera and small pox that are covered by the Act, but they are no longer relevant. However, today we have Swine Flu, which has been recognised by the World Health Organisation as pandemic. Multi Drug Resistant TB and HIV are challenges that have  to be addressed through the Act, apart from diseases like dengue and chikungunya. TB is notifiable at the moment, we have sought a sub clause for MDR-TB, as it is a huge public health problem.” 

He adds that at the community level, contamination and breeding of mosquitoes and flies in residential areas could be tackled through prevention and prosecution through the amendments.  “Hygiene in hotels and restaurants too have been covered in the amendments. The big move was to increase penalty from Rs 5 to almost Rs 10,000 and six months of imprisonment. Sri Lanka eradicated Malaria by enhancing the penalty, so this could be an effective step.” 

A senior public health official said that the amendments were expected to be passed soon. The source added that the amendments have also covered non communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension and called for notification of cancer. 

“But we have a cancer registry, this may not be necessary,” says the source, adding that education and information are an integral part of the Act.