FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATION REGULATIONS

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATION

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 528.05

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATION

REGULATIONS

25th October, 2013 *

LEGAL NOTICE 391 of 2013.

The title of these regulations is the Functions and

Responsibilities of the Department of Health Regulation

Regulations.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"Act" means the Health Act;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for Health.

(1) It shall be the function of the Department of Health

Regulation in general to safeguard public health, licence, monitor

and inspect the provision of healthcare services in order to ensure

their quality and safety, and to recommend the standards to be met

by healthcare providers and advise the Minister on matters relating

to public health.

(2) In particular the functions and duties of this Department

shall include

(a) to formulate regulations and standards in line with

Government direction and to ensure their enforcement;

(b) to advise Government on the public health aspects of

regulation of food, medicines, blood, organs and

health professionals;

(c) to receive and process applications for the issuing of a

licence for any healthcare service, pharmacy and other

services falling within public health regulations,

provided by healthcare providers;

(d) to receive and process applications for the issuing of a

licence, by the Minister, for any nursing home or home

for the aged under article 98 of the Medical and

Kindred Professions Ordinance;

(e) to evaluate, accredit, recognize and licence systems,

policies, agencies, entities, and private healthcare

providers where the safety of the institution and the

service delivery are assured;

(f) to monitor and ensure the maintenance of public health

standards and regulations in licensed premises and

other entities as appropriate;

(g) to advise Government on public health aspects of

*see regulation 1(2) of these Regulations, as originally promulgated.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATION

emergency preparedness and coordinate emergency

response programmes;

(h) to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public

through the enforcement of all national and

international regulations and public health legislation;

(i) to prevent communicable and non-communicable

diseases and carry out surveillance and control in order

to protect the general public from such diseases;

(j) to develop, co-ordinate and evaluate various

environment monitoring programmes aimed at

reducing health hazards and promoting environmental

health;

(k) to maintain national and international networking in

the field of public health and representing government

in international public health related fora;

(l) to promote research, teaching and training;

(m) to cooperate on issues within the remit of the

department, with local and international organisations

particularly with the institutions of the European

Union involved in health;

(n) to carry out such other function or functions as the

Minister may from time to time determine and direct;

(o) to implement any other matter required for the

fulfilment of its mission, and for the execution of

duties pertaining to the State, as established in the Act.