What Is the Public Health Act?
A number of pieces of legislation around the world go by the name “Public Health Act,” reflecting a global interest in maintaining public health and in creating legislation which funds public health initiatives, codifies major public health concerns, and establishes government agencies to oversee public health issues. Several nations have multiple public health acts, reflecting changing concerns and attitudes about public health and disease, along with the need for new legislation to cope with the emergence of new public health threats.
The most famous public health act is probably the Public Health Act of 1848, passed in Britain. This landmark piece of legislation emerged in response to Edwin Chadwick's famous Sanitary Report. Chadwick made an exhaustive survey of Britain, identifying a number of sanitation issues, especially in urban areas, and suggesting that the government needed to take steps to protect public health to avoid future epidemics of disease and generally unsanitary conditions.
Under the Public Health Act of 1848, formal boards of public health were created, and the responsibility of communities was made clear. Rather than leaving sanitation up to chance, the Public Health Act mandated the formal organization of water supplies, sewers, and garbage collection, with the goal of keeping British communities cleaner, safer, and more pleasant to live in. This Public Health Act had a number of weak points, but it marked the beginning of a shift in attitudes about sanitation, with nations beginning to recognize that public health could not be left up to chance.
Another Public Health Act was passed in Britain in 1875, specifically addressing urban sanitation issues, particularly substandard living conditions. It created a more rigorous building code to address egregious violations, making British cities safer and more wholesome for their residents. As numerous contemporary writings indicate, this Public Health Act was sorely needed and probably could have been more strongly worded.
The United States also passed a notable public health act in the form of the Public Health Service Act in 1946, when it organized public health services in the United States and created better funding for public health. The Public Health Service Act has been amended a number of times to add funding for additional causes and to better define public health threats and public health policies. Those interested in reading it for themselves can consult Title 42 of the United States Code, and prepare for a long read. Title 42 also addresses public welfare and some civil rights issues.
Written by S.E. Smith
