Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2023)

2.   Interpretation

In this Act—

“Commission” means the Health Services (Complaints and Conciliation) Commission established under section 3;

“confidential information” means information gained as a result of a person's position, or employment with or as a health service provider;

“health service” includes—

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   (a)     medical, hospital and nursing service;

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   (b)     dental service;

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   (c)     psychiatric service;

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   (d)     pharmaceutical service;

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   (e)     ambulance service;

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   (f)     community health service;

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   (g)     environmental health service;

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   (h)     service provided by an audiologist, osteopath, optometrist, or occupational therapist, or a chiropodist, chiropractor, dietician physiotherapist, herbalist, homeopathist, or reflexologist;

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   (i)     service provided by a practitioner of naturopathy, acupuncture or in an alternative health care field; and

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   (j)     a service prescribed as a health service for purposes of this Act;

“health service provider” includes—

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   (a)     a person or body providing a health service;

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   (b)     a person who manages a health care institution;

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   (c)     any clinic, public hospital, private hospital, community health centre, psychiatric hospital;

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   (d)     the chief executive officer or person holding a similar position of any body listed in paragraph (c); and

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   (e)     a person or organisation that is prescribed as a health service provider for purposes of this Act or that is included in a class of persons or organisations prescribed as health service providers for purposes of this Act;

“health service worker” means a person employed by a health service provider and whose duties are connected with the provision of a health service;

“industrial tribunal” means any tribunal established under a law in force in Saint Lucia specifically to deal with industrial relations matters;

“Minister” means Minister responsible for health;

“position” means—

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   (a)     position as a member of the Commission;

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   (b)     position as an officer or employee of the Commission;

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   (c)     position as a participant in an investigation under this Act;

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   (d)     position as a person or body to whom the Commission refers a complaint;

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   (e)     position as a person who has received a notice under section 12;

“prescribed” means prescribed in regulations made under section 16;

“registration authority” means a body set up under a law for the purpose of registering practitioners in the medical, dental, nursing fields, or other persons entitled to offer a health service;

“regulations” means regulations made under section 16;

“user” means a person who uses or receives a health service but does not mean a person who has arranged a health service for another.