The President's Office has published a regulation on reporting dangerous diseases. The regulation makes it a punishable offence to neglect to report on individuals who are found positive for dangerous diseases as specified in the Public Health Act.
Health Protection Agency (HPA) is required to publish a case booklet containing complete information on dangerous and communicable diseases within 60 days of publishing the regulation. The regulation requires individuals to file a report within 24 hours if they have information on the likelihood of the spread of diseases in the Maldives if that disease is already spreading in other countries. Individuals are also required to report if they identify symptoms of a dangerous disease in another person, or have evidence that a person has been infected with a dangerous disease.
Additionally, doctors and nurses are required to report to the Director-General of Public Health immediately if they identify a dangerous disease or if a disease is being spread at a higher rate than usual. HPA is also required to establish a hotline and online portal to make such reports within 20 days of publishing the regulation. The regulation also makes it an offense to reveal the identity of patients who have been infected with a dangerous disease and individuals who file false reports will be penalised with a fine of no more than USD 194.
The director-general also has the authority to penalise individuals who fail to file their report on time with a fine of no more than USD 65.