Salient points in epidemic law

Salient points in epidemic law

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Health Minister Ahmad Sujudi invoked Law No. 4/1984 to declare
the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) a national epidemic
by issuing Ministerial Decree No. 424/2003.

Law No. 4/1984 on epidemic diseases consists of 17 articles
regulating measures on tackling epidemics, including sanctions
for those who obstruct efforts to prevent and contain the
epidemic.

Some highlights of Law No. 4/1984:

Articles 3 and 4 of the law state that the health minister has
the authority to determine whether a disease is of epidemic
proportions or not, and to decide where and when the law is to
enacted or discontinued.

Article 5 says that measures to tackle epidemic diseases
include:
- investigation of cases
- medical checkups, treatment, isolation and quarantining of
patients
- prevention and vaccination
- destroying the sources of the disease
- treatment of corpses
- distribution of information to the public

Article 11 states that anyone who knows of a suspected case
must report it to the nearest local authorities. The local
authorities then have to report the cases to their immediate
superior. Following that, the highest authority in the regions
have to take appropriate actions.

Article 14 (1) states that anybody who intentionally obstructs
measures to contain the epidemic will be sentenced to one year in
prison and/or a maximum fine of Rp 1 million.

Article 14 (2) states that anybody who unintentionally
obstructs the measures to contain the epidemic will be sentenced
to six months in prison and/or a maximum fine of Rp 500,000.