Key Benefits:
The World Health Organization issued a worldwide alert on March 12, 2003, which was later extended on March 15 to the emergence of an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, as a measure of precaution to prevent its spread.
This situation has necessitated the adoption of measures of a national nature in order to prevent the introduction of the outbreak into the national territory. In this regard, dated 22 March, the Royal Decree 350/2003 of 21 March, establishing the Inter-Ministerial Commission for the follow-up of SARS, was published with the aim of coordinating the actions of the various ministries. involved.
The activities carried out so far by the Commission include: actions with travellers from or to the affected areas; establishment of control procedures at ports and airports; and national and international coordination activities. The Scientific Advisory Committee for SARS has been set up by Order SCO/1134/2003 of 6 May, on a proposal from that Commission.
In addition, on 5 April, the Resolution of 4 April 2003, of the Directorate-General for Public Health, was published, adopting special measures for health protection in relation to the importation of certain goods from the areas of third countries affected by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Decision 2119 /98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 1998 establishing a Network for the Epidemiological and Control Surveillance of the European Communities has been taken into account in the preparation of this Order. Communicable diseases in the Community, which in Article 4 states that Member States shall provide useful information on the evolution of epidemic situations and on rare epidemiological phenomena or new diseases communicable of unknown origin. It has also been considered Commission Decision 2000 /57/EC of 22 December 1999 establishing an early warning and response system for the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
The National Epidemiological Surveillance Network is created by Royal Decree 2210/1995 of December 28, and in its article 4, paragraph 1, the notification of epidemic situations and outbreaks is established. Furthermore, in Article 15 (2), it is established that an epidemic or outbreak situation is considered when a disease, problem or health risk appears in an area formerly free of it. Article 16 states that the declaration of an epidemic outbreak is mandatory and urgent. This obligation affects, in the first instance, all the doctors in exercise and the public and private health centres, which detect the appearance of the same.
In the case of the occurrence of a case of SARS in our country, it would be included, according to Article 18 (5) of Royal Decree 2210/1995, as an outbreak of supracomunitarian interest given its importance and gravity, considering the the need for urgent declaration to the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs.
While in the International Health Regulations, in its Title II: Notifications and Epidemiological Information, the mandatory notification of cases in the course of an epidemic is collected, this order complements This is a matter of regulating the various aspects of SARS notification and surveillance. This procedure is also in line with what was agreed at the European Union's Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 6 May and 2 June 2003.
This provision is dictated by the provisions of Article 149.1.16.a of the Constitution and under the provisions of Articles 8.1; 18.13; 23; 39; 40.12; and 40.13: 112 and of the additional provision The second part of Law 14/1986, of 25 April, General of Health, and of the Organic Law 3/1986, of 14 April, of special measures in the field of Public Health, and in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 2210/1995, of 28 December, for which the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network is created.
In its virtue, I have:
First. Object.
The purpose of this order is to complete the provisions of the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network, in connection with the notification of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, in accordance with the requirements of the Union Network. European and the World Health Organization and strengthening the provision of the International Health Regulations on the mandatory notification of cases in the course of an epidemic.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is a mandatory, urgent and supracomunitary declaration of interest. This obligation affects all working doctors and healthcare facilities, both public and private, that diagnose the occurrence of the disease.
Second. Notification.
The public and private health personnel in the exercise of their profession have an obligation to notify on an urgent basis, within a maximum of 24 hours, any suspected or probable case of SARS, to the Network of Surveillance of your Community or Autonomous City in a unitary and homogeneous questionnaire, prepared by the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network and supplied by the Community or Autonomous City.
Public Health Officers of the Autonomous Communities and Cities shall communicate to the National Center of Epidemiology, as a matter of urgency, the information collected in the event of a suspected or probable case of SARS.
The Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System will contribute to the development and potential adaptation of the surveillance and control protocols of SARS, and the regime of data transmission on the epidemiological surveillance of the disease and the control measures required.
The competent authority of each Community and Autonomous City shall regulate the information circuit, including monitoring, in accordance with its powers and within its territory.
Third. Adoption of complementary action measures.
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs will agree with the Autonomous Communities and Cities, within the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, the measures of action and coordination and the decisions or recommendations medical and health care that requires disease control, as well as actions that are considered accurate for the correct and effective application of this order.
Fourth. Regulatory enablement.
This provision is made pursuant to Article 149.1.16.a of the Constitution and under the provisions of Articles 8.1; 18.13; 23; 39; 40.12; and 40.13: 112 and of the additional provision The second part of Law 14/1986, of 25 April, General of Health, and of the Organic Law 3/1986, of 14 April, of special measures in the field of Public Health, and in accordance with the provisions of Royal Decree 2210/1995, of 28 December, for which the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network is created.
Fifth. Entry into force.
This order shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the "Official State Gazette".
Madrid, 4 June 2003.
PASTOR JULIAN