The Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability has opened public consultations on the revised Public Health Bill, 2026 and Environmental Health Bill, 2026. The public is invited to review the changes and provide feedback by Monday, 16 November 2026.
The revisions reflect feedback received during the consultations held in August and September. The Government intends to bring both Bills to Parliament during the November meeting.
Public Health Bill, 2026
The revised Public Health Bill, 2026 adds safeguards to the scope of notifiable diseases, limits certain powers of entry and clarifies inspection powers. It also refines requirements for managing risks of harm in community settings and clarifies how a public health incident of national threat may be declared, including the advice provided to Cabinet.
Other changes add the power to issue public advisory notices, strengthen health surveillance and enforcement, provide a general right of appeal, and allow greater flexibility in emergency staffing. The Bill also clarifies that published national statistics will use anonymised, aggregate data.
Environmental Health Bill, 2026
The revised Environmental Health Bill, 2026 adds a dedicated section on monitoring and regulating water from sources, including piped supplies, wells, boreholes, cisterns, rainwater systems, desalination plants, water trucks and bottled water. It also creates offences related to contaminated drinking water.
The Bill strengthens safeguards for entry to residential properties. In general, entry require 24 hours’ written notice and the occupier’s consent or a magistrate’s warrant. It sets outs exceptions for emergencies involving imminent danger to life, a serious public health risk, or the need for immediate action.
The revisions also introduce temporary closure orders. The Director may close premises for up to 14 days where an immediate serious health risk cannot be adequately addressed by other measures. If the risk continues, an application may be made to the Grand Court for a closure order.
How to participate
The revised Bills and consultation surveys are available at publicconsultation.gov.ky
Feedback may also be submitted at the district information sessions as listed below:
The scheduled sessions are:
· West Bay: Thursday, 29 October, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., John Gray Memorial Hall.
· George Town: Friday, 30 October, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Lucille Seymour Seniors’ Centre, Central Scranton Park
· East End: Thursday, 5 November, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre.
· Bodden Town: Friday, 6 November, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Church of God Chapel.
· North Side: Thursday, 12 November, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., North Side Civic Centre.
· Cayman Brac: Friday, 13 November: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Brac Reef Resort.