GOV’T AIMS TO TABLE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BILL IN NOVEMBER

The National Government is aiming to table and pass the proposed Public Health Emergency Bill in Parliament in November this year.

The Legislative Committee, which was established to oversee the development of the Bill is currently holding consultations with Provincial stakeholders.

The team has held consultations with key stakeholders in Gizo last week and Auki early this week to be followed by other Provinces.

“If everything goes according to plan, the government aims to table and pass this Bill in Parliament before the current State of Public Emergency expires in late November,” Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said on Monday.

The proposed legislation should enable the Solomon Islands Government to promptly and effectively respond to a potential public health threat, an outbreak or spread of an infection or disease, or the risk of the outbreak or spread of infection or disease, within Solomon Islands.

Once enacted, the legislation aims to prevent or limit the risk of an outbreak or epidemic, or contains the outbreak and spread of infection, within Solomon Islands.

It also aims to avoid, mitigate or remedy the effects or potential effects of an outbreak or epidemic within Solomon Islands.

The Public Health Emergency Bill will allow the declaration that there exist in Solomon Islands a Public Health Emergency.

The Declaration will have the effect of superseding laws and will be used to trigger a number of coordinated responses required to combat or address a Public Health Emergency.

ENDS///

Media release from Government Communication Unit