New Report calls for a Welsh
Public Health Bill
Embargo: 1.00am Thursday 31 January 2008
A Public Health Bill should be promoted by the Assembly Government
to tackle 21st Century problems such as obesity, the threat of bird
flu and other pandemics, according to a new IWA study published today
(31 January 2008).
The call is made by John Wyn Owen, a former Director of NHS Wales,
in a contribution to The Welsh Health Battleground, a new
publication in which health experts suggest new policy approaches
for the National Assembly’s third term. Mr Wyn Owen says the
Assembly has an opportunity to pioneer a distinctive Welsh approach
which could serve as an exemplar for devolved administrations throughout
the UK. He says current legislation is unfit for purpose for three
reasons:
• It fails to demonstrate a cross-cutting approach to population
health protection and improvement.
• There is a dangerous lack of clarity about public health accountability.
• Communicable disease powers are grossly outdated and have
little relation to contemporary scientific knowledge concerning effective
control methods.
Mr Wyn Owen argues that a Welsh Bill, promoted under the Assembly’
new powers within the 2006 Wales Act, should closely follow Swedish
legislation by targeting such areas as eating habits and safe food
stuffs, reduced uses of tobacco and alcohol, a drug free society,
and a reduction in the harmful effects of excessive gambling.
The Welsh Health Battleground comprises the edited contributions made
to the inaugural conference of Academy Health Wales, organised by
the Institute of Welsh Affairs. This addressed what was in the Health
Minister’s in-tray at the beginning of the National Assembly’s
third term. A partnership between the IWA, UWIC, and Pfizer Ltd, Academy
Health Wales is developing a wide membership, bringing together policy
makers from the Assembly Government, Health Boards and Trusts, the
political parties, academia, and the health care and pharmaceutical
and other related health industries, as well as wider civic society.
It provides a regular forum for dialogue and discussion on health
and social care policy.
For further information contact:
John Osmond, Director IWA 029 2066 6606, johnosmond@iwa.org.uk
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