The practice as a physician assistant in the State of Illinois is hereby declared to affect the public health, safety and welfare and to be subject to regulation and control in the public interest. The purpose and legislative intent of this Act is to encourage and promote the more effective utilization of the skills of physicians by enabling them to delegate certain health tasks to physician assistants where such delegation is consistent with the health and welfare of the patient and is conducted at the direction of and under the responsible supervision of the physician.
     It is further declared to be a matter of public health and concern that the practice as a physician assistant, as defined in this Act, merit and receive the confidence of the public, that only qualified persons be authorized to practice as a physician assistant in the State of Illinois. This Act shall be liberally construed to best carry out these subjects and purposes.