First Reading of the Draft Public Health Act (433 SE)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd session, plenary session.
Date: 2024-06-13 01:48
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 13
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 32m
AI Summaries: 13/13 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The topic of the presentation was the first reading in the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) of Public Health Act Bill 433, initiated by the Government of the Republic. The presentation was given by Minister of Health Riina Sikkut, who emphasized the necessity of updating the law, as the previous texts have become outdated, and there is now a need to strengthen population health and prevention efforts. The law highlights health as a concept in a broader sense—physical, mental, and social well-being—and stresses that health is integral to every policy and is the responsibility of all ministries and local governments. Key observations concerned the shaping of the living environment, prevention, and evidence-based interventions that reduce health impacts and costs related both to treatment and people’s quality of life.
Furthermore, the substantive amendments to the law were addressed—a clearer distribution of definitions and responsibilities, the updating of health and residential building profiles, and, if necessary, the updating of these profiles every four years. The primary target group is children: focusing on the quality of food and beverages offered in schools and childcare institutions, nutritional balance, and promoting healthy choices in cafeterias; occupational safety and security in tanning salons, tattoo parlors, and beauty services were also discussed. The broader goal of the bill is to prevent harmful health impacts, reduce inequality, and increase the effectiveness of public health through cooperation between ministries and local governments.
The law is scheduled to enter into force on July 1, 2025, and several ministries, as well as representatives of local governments and schools, are cited as cooperation partners. Additionally, supervision against quack medicine and misinformation, the faster removal of new dangerous substances from the market, and expanded oversight regarding the advertising of medicines and services were addressed.
Decisions Made 3
To place the draft bill on the plenary session agenda for June 12th; result of the vote: 6 in favor, 2 opposed, 0 abstaining.
Karmen Joller was appointed as the representative of the Steering Committee (a consensus decision).
The first reading is concluded. Voting result: 6 in favor, 1 against, 1 abstention.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Irja Lutsar (Eesti 200 faction). She spoke multiple times and steered the debate, primarily taking an oppositional stance directed at the Riigikogu bench. Her position falls into the “other” category (not directly a left-wing or right-wing coalition role).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that the first reading of the government-initiated Public Health Act draft bill 433 is the item on today's agenda, and he invited Health Minister Riina Sikkut to the podium to deliver her presentation.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
The Riigikogu received an overview from Riina Sikkut’s address regarding the new Public Health Act, which replaces the text in force since 1995. The law aims to improve the health of the population through prevention, the shaping of general health-related well-being and the living environment, and by establishing clear responsibility—ensuring health is integrated into every policy. Local governments, schools, and work environments will play a crucial role, with the law encompassing measures such as making school nutrition and canteens healthier, restricting solarium and tattoo services for minors, strengthening the supervision of pseudo-medicine, and accelerating mechanisms for removing dangerous substances from the market. The new law will enter into force on July 1, 2025.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the Minister and announces that there are questions, and calls upon Irja Lutsar to take the floor.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar acknowledged that although the law is comprehensive, it only covers certain registers and databases. She wants to include internal registers as well, and she questioned when Estonia, as a state reliant on registers, will start making decisions based on evidence rather than emotions.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut confirmed that Estonia possesses high-quality data registries, which are being integrated into the Health Information System. This integration includes adding the fertility treatment register to ensure research, improved healthcare services, and continuity of care. This endeavor requires investments, IT and analytical resources, and collaboration among specialists to establish the world's first system for managing registries based on a national Health Information System.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Tanel Kiik to the stage.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik asks what can be done before the law comes into force to prevent the spread of pseudo-medicine, which has caused health damage and fatalities.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that while the law is only the first step and focuses solely on toxic products, it is also crucial to increase the dissemination of evidence-based information and involve experts to raise awareness, refute misinformation, and demonstrate that evidence-based medicine is the best solution.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address thanks the honorable Minister and announces that the questioning period has concluded, following which Karmen Joller, member of the Social Affairs Committee, will present the decisions of the lead committee.
Karmen Joller
AI Summary
Karmen Joller stated that the minister provided a thorough overview of the draft legislation, which the committee subsequently adopted amid positive reception. The discussion centered on defining the limits of attributing prohibited therapeutic properties to medicinal products, curbing the spread of misinformation, the necessity of regulating the designation 'therapist,' and issues related to the start time of the school day and school meals. Furthermore, the committee resolved to submit the bill to the plenary session on June 12 and conclude the first reading (6 votes in favor, 1 against, 1 abstention). Joller was designated as the representative for the lead committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He/She thanks sincerely, notes that there are no questions, and opens the discussions, which Irja Lutsar does on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
Irja Lutsar stated that while the law is comprehensive and sound, it mainly regulates tattooing, covering the prohibition of minors, safety concerns, and informed decision-making. She simultaneously stressed the necessity of registries and the ability to systematize data on HIV and other diseases over long time periods, which would aid scientific research and public health policy decisions. If this component is absent from the current legislation, the state must certainly proceed with the statutory establishment of these registries.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced the closure of discussions, stating that the first reading of Draft Act 433 has been concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments is 5:15 p.m. on June 27th of the current year.