The document discusses public health laws and their importance. It begins by defining public health laws as laws that promote and protect public health. The objectives of public health acts are outlined as protecting and promoting public health, controlling health risks, and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Characteristics of public health laws include that public health activities are a government responsibility, they focus on population health, and contemplate the relationship between the state and population. The document also discusses various public health laws in India, the national importance of such laws, and the functions and responsibilities of nurses regarding public health laws.

1. PRESENTED BY
MR. INDRA MANI MISHRA
M. Sc. NURSING ,B.Sc. Biotechnology
COLLEGE OF NURSING,RIMS, RANCHI

2. INTRODUCTION
 For improvement and protection of public
health, an adequate health system is required,
but with any system, public health laws are
absolutely essential for proper and effective
regulation of health system.
 The scope of public health is not limited to
one area, but it is very extensive. Hence, public
health laws are also wide based. In every aspects
of community health, public health laws are
important.
 Therefore , to solve public health problems,
effective laws are utmost essential.

3. DEFINITION:-
 According to Gostin, “ Public health laws
are such legal forces and duties of organized
society, by which conditions for maintaining
citizen’s health are ensured.’’
 Public health law refers to a statute, or rule
or local ordinance that has the purpose of
promoting or protecting the public health.

4. OBJECTIVES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
ACT:-
To protect and promote public health
Control the risk to public health
Promote the control of infectious diseases
Prevent the spread of infectious diseases
Recognizes the role of local governments in
protecting public health

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC
HEALTH LAWS:-
GOVERNMENT- Public health activities are the
primary responsibility of government.
POPULATION- Public health focus on the
health of populations.
RELATIONSHIP- Public health contemplates
the relationship between the state and the
population.
SERVICES- Public health deals with the
provision of public health services.
COERCION- Public health possesses the power
to coerce the individual for the protection of the
community.

6. EFFECTIVNESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
LAWS:-
 By simply making public health laws health problems
cannot be solved. To make the health laws effective, the
support of following factors are important:
Useful health system for proper solving.
Proper economic policies.
Community participation.
Constitutional support.
Periodic review of the health laws.
Strong political will to implement health laws.
Proper resources.

7. CONTENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH
LEGISLATION:-
1) General information about laws
 General health code, rules, laws, constitution,
fundamental rights, duties etc.
 Social & economic aspects of health laws
 Health care systems and the systems of
implementing laws
2) Rules related to disease control and medical care
 Infectious disease
 Non-infectious disease

8. Cont…..
3) Mental health.
4) Care of aged and handicapped persons.
5) Laws related to smoking, tobacco, alcoholism and
drug addiction.
6) Legal implication in family health. ( eg. Child health
and protection.
7) Death and issues related to it.
8) Nutrition and food safety.
9) Consumer protection.
10) Drug preparation and different aspects related to it.

9. Cont….
11) Occupational health and safety.
12) Environmental protection.
13) Training of health personnel.
14) Code of ethics and professional responsibilities.

10. IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
LAWS AT WORLD LEVEL:-
The chief objective of international health laws is to
improve health status at international level.
To eradicate health risks for global environment or
minimize them.
Legal intervention by making health policies and laws
to prevent non-communicable disease, diabetes.
Introduction and management of new techniques in
area of health like biotechnologies , information etc.
To prevent health risks which may happen due to
international travel.

11. Cont…
 To assist international agencies and institutions in
health management and regulations.
 To increase awareness and interest regarding health in
the entire world.

12. OBSTACLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
LAWS:-
 Health laws have to face many hindrances at local,
regional, national and international levels.
 Hindrances produced due to social, political,
administrative and economic fields are included in
this.
 In addition to these obstacles, trade and commerce,
communication, technical and such globalization
related problems also create obstacle in implementing
health laws properly.

13. PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS IN INDIA
 In India, health comes in the concurrent list. Hence
making and implementation of health laws are the
responsibility of state as well as central Govt.
 In the enactment and implementation of health laws the
following department of the state and central governments
play important roles:
 Ministry of health and family welfare
 Labor ministry
 Department of women and child welfare
 Public works department

14. Cont….
Department of local bodies
Central pollution control board
State pollution control board
Ministry of food
Department of transportation and communications
Ministry of forestry and environment

15. NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF
PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS:-
 The chief objectives public health laws at
national level is proper regulation and
management of health services.
Strengthen the nation’s health infrastructure
Following the international health laws
Identification of government’s limitations in
the area of health

16. Cont…
Making necessary financial provision for health .
Proper utilization of national resources .
Maintaining economic discipline in the area of health
Protection environmental health
Protection of food and maintaining nutritional level
Protecting citizens from drug addiction, alcoholism
etc.
Protection to consumers health services
Protection from environmental pollution and other
health risks.

17. Cont….
 Following codes of ethics in health and
medical services, education, Training and
Research.

18. LAWS AND NURSING/MEDICAL
PROFSSION:-
 Doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff working in the
field of public health are responsible and accountable to
both, their profession and national law.
 The Judicial System in India

 Supreme Court
 High Courts
 Subordinate Courts/ Session Courts/Tribunals

19. Cont…
District and Session Courts
Civil Court(District Judge) Criminal Court(Session)
Civil Judge Assistant Session Judge
 Munsif Chief Judicial Magistrate

 Magistrate

20. TYPES OF LAWS:-
 CIVIL LAW: Civil law deals matters concerning property,
contracts, torts, trust, family, succession etc.
 CRIMINAL LAW: Criminal law deals all matters related to
any type of crime against individual, society or nation.
 LAW OF TORTS: The law of torts deals with those civil
wrongs, which are independent of contract, being wrong
for which remedy is unliquidated damages.
 LAW OF CONTRACTS: The act defines contract as an
agreement enforceable by law.
 When patient approaches hospital or any health agency,
the relationship between them is one of contractual in
nature.

21. LIABILITY FOR CIVIL NEGLIGENCE:-
This is mainly concerned with the 4 D’s
DUTY: Existence of a duty of care by the
nurse or doctor.
DERELICTION: The failure on the part of the
nurse/ doctor to maintain proper care and
skill.
DIRECT CAUSATION: The failure to exercise
a duty of care must lead to damage.
DAMAGE: The damage which resulted must
be reasonably foreseeable.

22. FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW IN
NURSING:-
 In nursing, law serves following functions:
It provides guidance for nursing actions in the medico-
legal cases.
It helps to set the limitations of independent nursing
actions.
It helps in maintaining standards of nursing practices.
It differentiates the nurse’s responsibilities from other
health professional.

23. SOME LAWS AND LEGISLATIONS
RELATED TO PUBLIC HEALTH:-
 Several central ordinances, regulations, laws, rules and
acts, directly or indirectly related to health, are found
in our country.
PREVENTION OF FOOD ADULTERATION Act 1954
This act ensure pure and healthy food substances to
consumers. This act came into force from 1st June 1955.
The ministry of health and family welfare is
responsible to prevent adulteration in food items and
to maintain quality of food.

24.  THE DRUGS AND COSMETICS ACT 1945
 This act is effective for standardisation of medicines
and cosmetics, control of quality, give recognition to
new medicines and such activities like :
Implementation of medicine laws and policies.
Keeping control over the quality of medicines.
Recognition to new drugs made in the country.
Providing licence for the preparation and sale of serum
and vaccines.

25. PRE-NATAL DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE Act 1994
The main objective of this act is to prevent the
inhumane trend of female foeticide. The act is effective
from 1st January 1996.
According to this act, except for hereditary diseases,
getting information about the sex of foetus or giving
information about it are punishable.

26.  MEDICAL TERMINATION OF PREGNENCY Act 1971
 This act is made to encourage safe abortions. This act
came into effect since 1st April 1972. This act is helpful
in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity.
 It is estimated that about 10 lakhs illegal abortions are
conducted every year.
 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAWS
 There are many laws to protect the health of workers
engaged in industries.
 They can be classified into :
1. Occupational Safety laws
2. Social Security laws

27.  Occupational safety law: Through this law , safety is
ensured to workers engaged in mining. It plays an
important role in industrial safety and health.
 Social Security Law: Following act/law come under
this :
Workers Compensation Act 1923
Employees State Insurance Act 1948
Maternity Benefits Act 1961

28.  WOMEN AND CHILD HEALTH WELFARE LAWS
 There are many laws in the country which are directly
related to child and women health. Some of them are
given below:
 Acts Related to Children
Child Marriage Prohibition Act 1976.
Children (labour prohibition) Act 1943
Juvenile Delinquency Justice Act 1986

29.  Laws Related to Women
 Hindu Marriage Act 1955
 Equal wages Act 1976
 Dowry Prohibition Act 1961
 National Women’s Commission Act 1992
CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 1986
This act is considered most important and effective law
protecting the interest of consumers. According to this law
any person obtaining a service after paying money is a
consumer.
Medical service also come within the consumer act . This law
extends to all private hospitals, doctors, nurses, clinics etc,
where full or partial payment is obtained for services.
Hence all medical staff and paramedical staff should have
knowledge about this law.

30.  MENTAL HEALTH Act 1987
 This law helps in the protection of mentally sick or
weak persons. This protects the rights of sympathetic
treatment and right to live with dignity of the mental
patients.
 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Act 1995
 The law deals with both prevention and promotional
aspects of the rehabilitation such as education,
employment and vocational training, creation of
barrier free environment to the persons with
disabilities.

31.  ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION LAWS
 Environment protection includes many areas like soil,
forest, water, air, plant kingdom, animal kingdom
pollution prevention etc.
 The central government has enacted ENVIRONMENT
Protection Act 1985, for protecting the environment.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is an
important agency for pollution control. Similarly, state
has this board to protect the environment in states.

32. Functions and Responsibilities of
Nurses with Regard to Public
Health Laws:-
 Keeping latest information regarding public health laws.
 Playing active role in implementing public health laws.
 Creating awareness in patients, families and society
regarding public health laws.
 Participation in reviews, workshops and seminars
regarding public health laws.
 Educating the public regarding the need and importance of
public health laws.
 If public health laws are broken, giving information to
concern agencies which can take appropriate action.
 Active participation in the evaluation of public health laws.

33. SUMMARY
 Introduction
 Definition
 Objectives of Public Health Laws
 Characteristics of Public Health Laws
 Effectiveness of Public Health Laws
 Contents of Public Health Laws
 Obstacles of Public Health Laws
 Importance of Public Health Laws at world level
 Public Health Laws in India
 National importance of Public Health Laws
 Law and Nursing/Medical Profession
 The Judicial system in India
 Types of Laws
 Function of Laws in Nursing
 Laws related to Public Health
 Functions & responsibilities of Nurses with regard to Public Health Law

34. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1) Swarnkar Keshav; Community Health Nursing; 2nd
Edition. 2006; Published by N.R. Brothers. Indore; Page
no. 695-704
2) Dr. Upadyay Ram Jai Jai; The Constitution of India;
Published by Central Law Agency Allahabad; Page no. 13,
14, 21-23
3) Park. K; Essential of Community Health Nursing; 4th
Edition 2014; Published by Premnagar, Jabalpur; Page no.
254-261
4) Dr. Rao Sundar Kasthuri; An Introduction to Community
Health Nursing; 4th Edition (reprint) 2005; Published by
B.I Publication pvt Ltd. Chennai; Page no. 354-359
5) www.google.org

35. THOUGHT OF THE DAY