Qatar sets up separate prosecution unit to deal with health law violators

Tribune News NetworkDohaQatar's Attorney General HE Dr Ali bin Fetais al Marri on Tuesday issued a resolution paving the way for separate prosecution of all public health law violators.The resolution establishes a health prosecution unit that will investigate and dispose of all health-related crimes. Deterrence against public health law violations is one of the main objectives of the resolution. It will apply to those who violate the provisions of the following laws:Law No. 11 of 1982 regulating treatment institutionsLaw No. 2 of 1983 in the matter of practicing the profession of human medicine, dental medicine and surgery and its amendmentsLaw No. 3 of 1983 regulating pharmacy professions, mediators, agents of pharmaceutical factories and companies, and its amendmentsDecree-Law No. 17 of 1990 on the Prevention of Infectious DiseasesLaw No. 3 of 2014 on packaging and serving human foodLaw No. 15 of 2015 regulating the transportation and transplantation of human organsLaw No. 16 of 2016 regarding mental healthTerming the unit “Health Prosecution”, the Attorney General’s office in a statement said the resolution — number 46 of 2020 — was issued as part of the precautionary and preventive measures taken by Qatar to preserve public health and safety.The decision stated that all communications related to health crimes pending before all other prosecutors will be referred to the Public Health Prosecution unless they have been disposed of.The decision indicated that the Public Health Prosecution is headed by a Public Prosecutor with the rank of Public Prosecutor and above and assisted by a sufficient number of Prosecutors and Assistant Prosecutors.