Health Legislation

The Act consolidates the laws relating to the registration of births and deaths in Lesotho. It makes compulsory the registration of the birth of a child, whether born alive or still-born, and of the death of any person dying after the commencement of the Act (section 3). The office of the Registrar General is the general register office for keeping the register of all births and deaths occurring in Lesotho (section 4).

These regulations have been adopted pursuant to two sections of the Public Health Order of 1970: article 16j referring to the enactment of regulations for the prevention of the spread of any communicable disease by persons who are "carriers" of the disease (...) and article 71m referring to regulations for requiring the medical examination of any person in any premises in which any milk or dairy produce or other article of food intended for sale is collected, kept sold (...).

The Order makes provision for citizenship of Lesotho, for the acquisition, deprivation and renunciation of citizenship, and for related and connected matters.

This Act makes provisions regarding the registration and licensing of medical and dental practitioners with a Medical and Dental Council, and provides for matters connected with the practice of these professions.

The Order provides rules regarding diseases subject to the international Health Regulation, the prevention and control of communicable diseases; sanitation and housing; and food and water protection among other aspects.

The order mandates the creation of a medical, Dental and Pharmacy Council; and regulates the keeping and sale of poisons and other related matters.

This Act makes provisions for public health and connected matters. This includes, among others, providing rules to address communicable diseases and nuisances (e.g. unsuitable dwellings).

This Act makes provisions regarding nurses and midwives including the establishment of certain bodies in relation with the professions.