Formulate and Enforce Public Health Act

Having a Public Health Act (GPHA) in place has been long suggested by experts and doctors but not formally formulated or implemented by the states. For such an important sector as 'Health', we do need to have more than just current guidelines, which would be strict code of conduct and laws to punish the violaters. When ethical standard of people are getting so low for money, then may be legal standards alone can ensure minimum standards of safe medical practice. The unfortunate outbreak of hepatitis-B Modasa in Gujarat has highlighted the necessity of such a law. We urge the government to formulate such a bill and make it into a law, which would hold doctors responsible for such grave misconduct and criminal negligence. There should be a provision for bringing to book, all those who do not adher to prescribed safe practices. This way other non-critical facilities like, infrastructure, equipment, and human resources can be tracked too; and a minimum standards enforced for these too.