Page 217 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

Consumers’ health
The consumption of goods and services affect the health of the people. Some have positive
effect and some have negative effects. Consumers’ health is described as the status of
health resulted due to the consumption of goods and services from the market. It is also
described as a form of education that aware the people to make the best choice of goods
and services available in the market as they affect the health of the people.
Consumer health refers to that area of health education that is concerned with giving
the consumers a background that enables them to make sound decisions in the selection,
purchase and use of services and products.
The consumption of low quality goods and services have adverse effects on the health of
people. So, they should be encouraged to consume quality goods and services for good
health. The concept of Consumer Health was developed in the 19th century after the
Industrial Revolution.

It is the duty of the government as well as the social organizations to secure the consumers’
health. Different laws were formulated for the protection of consumers’ health in Nepal.
For example, consumer Protection Act 2054 B.S. was formed to protect the health of the
consumers. Similarly, Food Act 2023 B.S., Drug Act 2035 B.S., Standard Measurement
Act 2025 B.S., Black Marketing, Social Crime and Punishment Act 2032 B.S. and Nepal
Standard Act 2037 B.S. were formulated and are being implemented in Nepal.

The quality of all the elements like food, clothes, oil, soap, stationery, construction
materials, etc. also affect the health of the consumers. Therefore, consumers should be
conscious about the selection of quality goods and services from the market.

Right to consumer health

Any one who consumes goods and services from the market is known as a consumer. The
consumption of such goods and services have positive or negative effect on the health
of people. This effect created by the use of goods is said to be consumers’ health. The
consumption of good also includes the use of raw materials, colour, perfume, chemical
substances, etc. The producers must also be conscious about the production of quality
goods and services as well as the effects of low quality goods on the health of the people.
The Essential Goods protection Act 2012 B.S. and Essential Goods Controlling Act 2017
B.S. has defined a list of different essential goods. The distributors or the shopkeepers
who sell these essential good must keep the price list of these food for publicity. The
following is the list of essential goods.

1. Rice 2. Wheat 3. Maize
4. Pulses 5. Bitten rice 6. Salt
7. Sugar 8. Ghee 9. Tea
10. Edible oil 11. Milk 12. Vegetables

13. Fruits 14. Meat 15. Spices

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