KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Food Safety has sought public suggestions on the draft bills designed to amend three important acts related to health sector.

The ministerial decision taken on Wednesday made public the draft bills on amendment of the Act on Control of the Breast-Milk Substitutes (Sale and Distribution) Act, 1992; amendment of the Act on Safety of Health Workers and Health Institutions, 2009; and the amendment of Act on Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights, 2018.

The ministry has urged all interested individuals, health workers, health institutions and concerned stakeholders to submit their views and suggestions to the ministry’s law section- [email protected] by July 28. The draft amendment to Act on Control of the Breast-Milk Substitutes (Sale and Distribution) Act has incorporated a provision to ensure effectiveness in protection and promotion of breastfeeding.

As per the draft, the health workers are restricted to recommend substitutes to breast-milk except under special circumstances. The government could run breastfeeding management centres, and the breastfeeding protection and promotion committees would be formed at the provincial and local levels.

Similarly, the draft amendment to the Act on Safety of Health Workers and Health Institutions proposes additional provision in a bid to ensure safety to medical persons and hospitals. The forceful and violent demonstrations would not be allowed at hospitals.

The draft amendment to Act on Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights makes the health institutions catering maternity services mandatory to have skilled health workers or trained midwives, ensure respectful maternity services, and legally restrict physical or mental violence against pregnant and postpartum women.