Section 1403 - Duty to protect health of the people(a) It shall be the duty of the Department of Health to protect the health of the people of the State, and to determine and employ the most efficient and practical means for the prevention and suppression of disease.(b) The Secretary of Health shall cause examination to be made of nuisances or questions affecting the security of life and health in any locality, and for that purpose the secretary, and any person authorized by the secretary so to do, may, without fee or hindrance, enter, examine and survey all grounds, vehicles, apartments, buildings, and places within the State, and all persons so authorized by the secretary shall have the powers and authority conferred by law upon constables.(c)(1) With the exception of a State health center in any county that is established as a separate county health department under the act of August 24, 1951 ( P.L. 1304, No.315), known as the Local Health Administration Law, the department shall operate public State health centers and provide at a minimum those public health services in effect as of July 1, 1995. The department shall not enter into contracts with any additional private providers that would result in the elimination of any State health center nor reduce the scope of services currently provided nor reduce the number of centers.(2), (3) Expired Dec. 31, 1997, pursuant to 1996, July 2, P.L. 518, No. 87, § 4.(4) [Deleted by 2023 Amendment.] (d) The department shall maintain and operate a State Public Health Laboratory that shall assure the availability of reliable clinical laboratory services and laboratory-based information that are needed by clinicians and other health providers for proper diagnosis and treatment, prevention of disease and promotion of the health of the citizens of this Commonwealth. The State Public Health Laboratory shall arrange for and perform clinical tests to identify diseases and provide epidemiological and surveillance support. The State Public Health Laboratory shall not contract with outside laboratories to perform testing in rabies, measles, rubella, Lyme disease, influenza and tuberculosis identification. The State Public Health Laboratory shall be administered and maintained in a manner in effect as of July 1, 1995.(e) The department shall apportion this Commonwealth into dental health districts administered by a public health dentist within the department, who shall implement dental health policies and programs for the various counties and political subdivisions within this Commonwealth.Amended by P.L. (number not assigned at time of publication) 2023 No. 50,§ 1, eff. 2/12/2024.1905, April 27, P.L. 312, § 8. Amended 1996, July 2, P.L. 518, No. 87, § 2, imd. effective.