Bill changing the tasks of the Health Board passed the first reading
At today’s sitting, a Bill passed the first reading in the Riigikogu. According to it, the organisation of the reference services for immunohaematological testing will be transferred from the Ministry of Social Affairs to the Health Board which is already exercising supervision over immunohaematological testing of blood and is providing the services of reference laboratory in health protection.
In order to allow flexibility and give the Health Board discretion over the term of the contract, the Bill on Amendments to the Blood Act (476 SE), initiated by the Government, will also eliminate the requirement that the term of a contract for the provision of reference services must be five years.
A reference laboratory for immunohaematological testing provides a service in the course of which donor blood products suitable for the treatment of a patient are determined. The purpose of the reference laboratory is to ensure the quality of the relevant testing in Estonia.
Under the current procurement contract, the North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation will be providing the reference service of the reference laboratory for immunohaematological testing until 2027. According to the explanatory memorandum, the amendment to the Act will not entail any changes to the content or quality of the service for the providers of the reference service, patients, or healthcare providers.
Aivar Kokk from Isamaa Parliamentary Group took the floor during the debate.
Two Bills were dropped from legislative proceedings
The plenary rejected the Bill on Amendments to the Hunting Act (444 SE), initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal, which was intended to exempt pensioners from the fee for hunting rights. According to the initiator, the amendment would have given them a chance to participate as hunters in the performance of contracts concluded with the state without incurring additional costs.
The Environment Committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 51 members of the Riigikogu supported rejection and three voted against.
The Riigikogu also rejected the Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code (452 SE), initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal. It was intended to make giving false statements before the Riigikogu punishable for ministers.
According to the Bill, if a minister knowingly made a false statement when replying to an interpellation, in Question Time or during the proceedings on a Bill or a draft Resolution, and if the person who asked the question had warned the minister beforehand that a punishment had been provided for such an activity, the punishment would have been a pecuniary punishment or up to three years’ imprisonment. According to the proposal, the same act, if it involved submission of incorrect data necessary for the work of the Riigikogu, would have been punishable by a pecuniary punishment or up to five years’ imprisonment.
The Legal Affairs Committee moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 51 members of the Riigikogu supported rejection, two were against and there was one abstention.
Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)
Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
[email protected]
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