The Kerala Public Health Act of 2023 supersedes the Travancore Cochin Public Health Act of 1955, applicable in the Travancore-Cochin region, and the Madras Public Health Act of 1939, applicable in the Malabar region. This comprehensive legislation now extends its jurisdiction to cover the entirety of Kerala. Envisioned as a detailed guideline to address various challenges that may arise over time, the Act is a crucial instrument in ensuring the health and well-being of all segments of society.

Going beyond mere diagnosis and treatment, the Act encompasses healthcare measures aimed at fortifying social systems to provide health services and preventing and controlling conditions that lead to diseases. It establishes robust mechanisms to address lifestyle diseases, and combat emerging viruses, pathogens, and infectious diseases resulting from factors such as climate change and human-animal contact. The legislation also tackles issues related to water management, waste disposal, infectious disease control, mosquito control, prevention of lifestyle diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and mechanisms for ensuring immunity.

The Act delineates the duties and powers of Public Health Committees and Public Health Officers. It explicitly outlines measures to ensure water safety, cleanliness, and the punitive actions that can be taken against those who violate the Act. Notably, the Kerala Public Health Act of 2023 breaks new ground by being the first law in the country to be written entirely in the feminine gender. This stands in contrast to all existing laws, which conventionally refer to individuals in the masculine gender.

Kerala Public Health Act 2023