DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION (AMENDMENT) BILL

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

Order for Second Reading read.

5.31 p.m.

The Minister for Health and Law (Mr K. M. Byrne): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Diphtheria Immunisation Ordinance, 1961, was enacted by the Assembly as a positive measure towards the improvement of child health in the State during the last session of the Assembly. The amendments now proposed are for the following reasons:

Firstly, to provide for the extension of the Ordinance to enable medical officers and nurses serving with the United Kingdom Forces in Singapore to carry out intra dermal tests and inoculations required under the Ordinance. This will be necessary to cover effectively the substantial armed services population who normally receive complete medical care from their own medical service units. This objective is achieved by amending the definitions of "medical practitioner" and "nurse" in section 2 of the principal Ordinance to include in its ambit service medical officers and nursing personnel.

Secondly, it was found that the principal Ordinance had no provision for exemption of a child from inoculation. The `principal Ordinance made provision for postponement with a maximum of three months at a time. This might in practice be found to be inadequate especially in the case of certain debilitating conditions of a permanent nature, such as uncompensated heart disease, chronic nephritis, serious allergies. Clause 4 provides for such exemption to be made.

Thirdly, the definition of "medical certificate" has been extended to include such other certificates as may `be accepted by the Deputy Director of Medical Services (Health) as evidence of inoculation. The purpose of this amendment is principally to enable suitable documents issued outside Singapore to be accepted as valid evidence of previous inoculation. The definition of medica1 certificate in the principal Ordinance was too restricted and covered only certificates issued by registered medical practitioners in Singapore.

Fourthly, opportunity is taken to effect the consequential amendment arising from the reorganisation of the Ministry of Health last year, whereby the reference to Assistant Director of Medical Services (Health) in the principal Ordinance is changed to Deputy Director of Medical Services (Health) who will be the appropriate officer discharging the duties required under the Ordinance.

The Diphtheria Immunisation Regulations are ready for publication and will be published as soon as this amendment Bill has been enacted and assented to. The publication of the Regulations will enable the Ordinance to be brought into force. It is expected to be able to do this by April 1962.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill-[Mr Byrne].

Bill considered in committee; reported, without amendment; read a Third time and passed.