Section 2: Interpretation

2. Interpretation In this Act— “apparatus” includes any plant, equipment or instrument; “authorised officer” means a public officer of the Ministry who is authorised as such for the purposes of this Act; “clinical laboratory”— (a) means any premises used or intended to be used for any type of medical investigation; and (b) includes any premises used or intended to be used for the manufacture, repair or modification of prostheses; but (c) does not include a hospital, a nursing home or a health care unit; “health care unit”— (a) means any premises used or intended to be used for— (i) the examination and treatment of any person suffering from or believed to be suffering from any disease, injury or disability of mind or body; or (ii) the cure or alleviation of any abnormal condition of the human body by the application of any technique or by the use of any apparatus; but (b) does not include premises which provide board or lodging to any person; P32 – 1 [Issue 1] Private Health Institutions Act “health institution” includes a clinical laboratory, a health care unit, a hospital and a nursing home; “hospital”— (a) means any premises used or intended to be used for the reception, lodging, examination and care or treatment of any disabled, injured or sick person; (b) includes a maternity hospital; “licensee” means the holder of a licence issued under section 3; “maternity hospital” means any premises used or intended to be used for the reception, lodging and care or treatment of any— (a) woman during the ante-natal, delivery or post-natal period; (b) newborn child; or (c) woman suffering from a gynaecological problem; “medical investigation” means an investigation which is designed to provide information in relation to— (a) the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease or allergic condition; (b) the assessment of the health of a person; (c) the ascertainment of the cause of death of a person, other than an autopsy performed for non-medical reasons; or (d) the response of a patient to medical or surgical treatment given to him; “Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for the subject of health is assigned; “nursing home” means any premises used or intended to be used for the reception, lodging and care or treatment of any person suffering from any infirmity or convalescing from any sickness or injury, other than a hospital; “Permanent Secretary” means the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.