# 1905
It's a sticky problem.
During an outbreak of a communicable disease such as SARS or Pandemic Influenza, how much power should the public health department (or in this case, Health Minister) have to control and hopefully contain the situation?
Singapore is the latest nation to answer that question, granting sweeping powers to their Health Minister during a health threat.
A Hat tip to Carol@SC on the wiki for posting this report from the Straits Times.
If Singapore faces a disastrous health threat...
Sweeping powers for minister to tackle public health emergency
Close shopping centres Take over private hospitals Arrest suspects without warrant
By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent
THE Health Minister is to get sweeping powers that include the authority to shut down shopping centres, commandeer the use of private hospitals, and arrest suspects without a warrant.
But these powers are for use only when the country faces a health threat that can prove 'disastrous', such as an outbreak of a fast-spreading infectious disease with the potential to kill many people.
The minister would then declare a public health emergency.
Such emergency powers are necessary as the Health Ministry prepares for an attack that is more deadly than Sars, said its minister yesterday during the debate on amendments to the Infectious Diseases Act.
One possible disease that could trigger such a situation is influenza.
Mr Khaw Boon Wan said the 2003 Sars epidemic taught Singapore one lesson: 'Reacting to the epidemic will grant the disease a headstart which can prove disastrous.'
Sweeping authority
The Health Minister can declare a public health emergency when:
THERE is an outbreak, or an imminent outbreak, of an infectious disease that could cause many deaths or disabilities.
Sars killed 33 people.
But a bird flu pandemic could kill more than 100 million people, said Dr Lam Pin Min, speaking in support of the move. Dr Lam, an ophthalmologist, had lost friends and colleagues to Sars.
So while he understands people's apprehension in giving so much power to the minister, he said: 'Any unnecessary delay may result in the rapid spread of the disease, with unimaginable magnitude of lives lost.'
The minister agreed. Such a deadly outcome is not 'theoretical', he said, citing previous flu pandemics.
'Influenza spreads rapidly because its incubation period is short, about two days, and it is highly transmissible,' he told Parliament, which later passed the Bill.
That is why it is necessary to act first, act fast and act together before the disease spreads.
Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim, who was among five MPs who spoke on the Bill, suggested that Parliament, rather than the minister, should decide when the country is faced with a health emergency.
Replying, Mr Khaw said there will be a need for speedy action. He noted that during Sars, the Government had to seek urgent approval from Parliament to contain the outbreak.
He also told Madam Halimah Yacob (Jurong GRC) that Singapore is not the first country to give such powers in an emergency.
Since the Sars outbreak, Britain, Western Australia and New Zealand have also changed their laws, to let action be taken without seeking approval from the legislature.
