The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7476 p492
3 November 2007

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Public health legislation to be updated in Scotland

Public health legislation in Scotland is set to be modernised through a new Bill introduced in the Scottish Parliament last week. The Public Health etc (Scotland) Bill sets out the public health responsibilities of health boards.

It describes the statutory requirements covering the reporting of notifiable diseases, and introduces powers to quarantine and examine people suffering from diseases that pose a threat to public health.

Also last week, Mary Scanlon MSP (Con, Highlands and Islands) asked the Scottish Government how it would use community pharmacies to promote public health.

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, responded: “The service specification [for the public health service in the community pharmacy contract] requires the proactive involvement of community pharmacists and their staff in supporting self care and offering suitable interventions to promote healthy lifestyles.”