Public Health Service Act, 2018

Chapter-1

Preliminary

1. Short Title and Commencement: (1) This Act may be called the "Public Health Service Act, 2075".
(2) This Act shall come into force immediately. 2. Definitions: Unless the subject or context otherwise requires, in this Act,-
(a) "Emergency Health Service" means the initial and immediate service that must be provided as required to make the life of persons in a life-threatening condition due to an emergency incident or emergency situation safe and to prevent loss of life or limb.
(b) "Basic Health Service" means promotive, preventive, diagnostic, curative, and rehabilitative services that are to be made available easily and free of cost by the State to fulfill the health needs of the general public pursuant to Sub-section (4) of Section 3.
(c) "Non-Governmental or Private Health Institution" means a health institution operating with investment and ownership from the non-governmental or private sector, having obtained approval pursuant to prevailing law.
(d) "Medical Practitioner" means a person registered with the relevant council as a medical practitioner pursuant to prevailing law.
(e) "Public Health Inspector" means the official designated for monitoring and regulation related to public health.
(f) "Hazardous Area" means a work area where there is any chemical, biological, climate change-induced, psychosocial, physical, material, or geographical condition that, due to the workplace or nature of work, has a negative impact on human health, and this term shall also include the potential risk that may occur to health workers during health treatment.
(g) "Prescribed" or "As Prescribed" means as prescribed or as specified in the rules made under this Act.
(h) "Traditional Treatment Provider" means a person who provides treatment using herbs, animal products, and minerals in a traditional manner.
(i) "Ministry" means the Ministry of the Government of Nepal dealing with the subject of health and population.
(j) "Committee" means the National Public Health Committee pursuant to Section 50.
(k) "Government Health Institution" means a health institution operated by the Federation, Province, and Local Level.
(l) "Community Health Worker" means a health worker, including a Female Community Health Volunteer, who has obtained prescribed qualifications or training in health service subjects from a recognized institution and works in an institution or community.
(m) "Service Recipient" means a person receiving health services at a health institution.
(n) "Service Provider" means a medical practitioner, health worker, or community health worker working in a health institution who has obtained specific qualifications or training in health service subjects from a recognized educational institution.
(o) "Health Worker" means a person registered with the relevant council as a health worker pursuant to prevailing law.
(p) "Health Service" means preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative services provided based on modern medicine (Allopathy), Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, and Sowarigpa (Amchi) systems of medicine.
(q) "Health Institution" means a Government Health Institution, and this term shall also refer to non-governmental or private or cooperative or non-profit community health institutions established pursuant to prevailing law.