Legislation modernising the Public Health Act and expanding standard healthcare benefits were approved in the Senate.

The Public Health Amendment Act 2016 was described as an updating of existing legislation.

The amendments will update Bermuda’s list of reportable diseases to include recent threats such as the Zika virus. Titles of officers were also brought up to date by the Bill, while fines and penalties were modernised.

Meanwhile the Health Insurance Amendment Act 2016 will bring additional benefits to the standard benefit package, including expanded duplex ultrasound screening for peripheral artery disease and therapeutic plasma exchange for immune mediated diseases without increasing the premium.

The amendments also change the definition of “child” in the legislation, removing the term “school leaving age” and replacing it with “under the age of 19”.

Both pieces of legislation were approved with unanimous support in the chamber.

Amended Marine Board regulations were also approved during the sitting, increasing piloting fees among others.