Mandate
The Public Health Authority (PHA) monitors, evaluates and ensures efficient operations of the Public Health Laws. It also regulates, monitors and evaluates all health-related services and ensures they adhere to good practices in the interest of the general public.
What does the Seychelles Public Health Authority do?
- Proposes and implements laws and regulations to protect individuals, families and communities
- Ensures the safety of all living environments (environmental health) and gainful human activity (occupational health and safety)
- Inspects premises for the purposes of licensing and compliance with standards, laws and regulations
- Prevents the entry of disease- causing vectors into the country at ports and airports
- Leads national programmes aimed at disease prevention (e.g. HIV and AIDS Programme, Cancer Prevention Programme, Tuberculosis Programme, Neglected Tropical Diseases etc), health promotion, and community well-being
- Engages with communities to raise awareness about key public health issues and necessary preventive measures (e.g. tobacco control, food control, control of harmful use of alcohol)
- Monitors and analyses health data to identify disease trends, outbreaks, and emerging health concerns (integrated disease surveillance and response)
- Develops emergency response plans and protocols to address public health crises, natural disasters, and pandemics
- Coordinates and leads appropriate response efforts during public health emergencies such as COVID-19,
- Conducts robust research to gather evidence to inform policy
- Runs sophisticated public health laboratories
- Collaborates with government agencies, non-profits, and other stakeholders to advocate for policies that enhance public health and safety
Strategic Priorities 2024 to 2026
- Conduct joint external evaluation, develop and implement new National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), and institutionalise a functional Public Health Emergency Operations Centre
- Construction and furbishment of new Public Health Lab and strengthen the laboratory capacity for genomic surveillance, other acute respiratory viruses and zoonotic diseases.
- Strengthen disease surveillance and response through the Implementation of the adapted 3rd edition of Integrated Disease surveillance Response guidelines.
- Strengthen regulatory functions of PHA by revising and updating existing and required public health laws/regulations and developing National Standards.
- Strengthen National and Health Sector’s response to HIV, AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
