A number of pieces of legislation around the world go by the name “Public Health Act,” reflecting a global interest in maintaining public health and in creating legislation that funds public health initiatives, codifies major public health concerns, and establishes government agencies to oversee public health issues. Several nations have multiple such acts, reflecting changing concerns and attitudes about public health and disease, along with the need for new legislation to cope with the emergence of new public health threats.
The most famous of these laws is probably the Public Health Act of 1848, passed in Great Britain. This landmark piece of legislation emerged in response to Edwin Chadwick’s famous Sanitary Report. Chadwick made an exhaustive survey of Britain, identifying a number of sanitation issues, especially in urban areas, and suggesting that the government needed to take steps to protect public health to avoid future epidemics of disease and generally unsanitary conditions.
Under this act, formal boards of public health were created, and the responsibility of communities was made clear. Rather than leaving sanitation up to chance, the law mandated the formal organization of water supplies, sewers, and garbage collection, with the goal of keeping communities cleaner, safer, and more pleasant to live in. The act had a number of weak points, but it marked the beginning of a shift in attitudes about sanitation, with nations beginning to recognize that public health could not be left up to chance.
Another Public Health Act was passed in Britain in 1875, specifically addressing urban sanitation issues, particularly substandard living conditions. It created a more rigorous building code to address egregious violations, making British cities safer and more wholesome for their residents. As contemporary writings indicate, this act was sorely needed and probably could have been more strongly worded.
The United States also passed a notable public health law in the form of the Public Health Service Act in 1946, when it organized public health services in the United States and created better funding for public health. The act has been amended a number of times to add funding for additional causes and to better define public health threats and policies. Those interested in reading it for themselves can consult Title 42 of the United States Code, and prepare for a long read. Title 42 also addresses public welfare and some civil rights issues.