Health Legislation

The Right to Information Act of 2019 provides for the implementation of the constitutional right to information held by a public institution, subject to the exemptions that are necessary and consistent with the protection of the public interest in a democratic society, to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs and to provide for related matters.

The Decree establishes the rules for implementing Law 34/2014, of December 31, on the Right to Information. It is applicable to the bodies and institutions of the State, direct and indirect administration, representation abroad, local authorities and also to private entities which, under the Law or by contract, carry out activities of public interest or which, in their activity, benefit from public resources from any source and have in their possession information of public interest.

This Act establishes the legal framework for the collection, analysis, and use of DNA samples for criminal investigations, paternity testing, and identification purposes and establishes the DNA Population Statistical Database, as well as the Unidentified and Missing Persons Database.

This Act provides for integrated and coordinated disaster management that focuses on prevention, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery from, disasters or emergency situations, and the management of their effects, establishes a National Disaster Management Agency and Regional, District and Village Disaster Management Committees.

This Act provides for an integrated and co-ordinated disaster management policy that focuses on preventing or reducing the risk of disasters, mitigating the severity of disasters, emergency preparedness, rapid and effective response to disasters and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation; regulates the establishment and functioning of national, provincial and municipal disaster management centres; regulates disaster management volunteers and matters incidental thereto.

The Act is to establish the Disaster Management Authority; to regulate its powers and functions and to make provision with respect to emergencies arising out of disasters including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery measures for the protection of life and property from the effects of disasters.

This Act makes provision for the co-ordination and implementation of measures to alleviate effects to disasters, the establishment of the office of Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness and Relief the establishment of a National Disaster Preparedness and Relief Committee of Malawi, and for matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.