Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996
R 385
National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61 of 2003)Chapter 3 : National Health23. Functions of National Health Council |
| (1) | The National Health Council must advise the Minister on- |
| (a) | policy concerning any matter that will protect, promote, improve and maintain the health of the population, including— |
| (i) | responsibilities for health by individuals and the public and private sector; |
| (ii) | targets, priorities, norms and standards relating to the equitable provision and financing of health services; |
| (iii) | efficient co-ordination of health services; |
| (iv) | human resources planning, production, management and development; |
| (v) | development, procurement and use of health technology; |
| (vi) | equitable financial mechanisms for the funding of health services; |
| (vii) | the design and implementation of programmes to provide for effective referral of users between health establishments or health care providers, or to enable integration of public and private health establishments; |
| (viii) | financial and other assistance received from foreign governments and intergovernmental or nongovernmental organisations, the conditions applicable to receiving such assistance and the mechanisms to ensure compliance with these conditions; |
| (ix) | epidemiological surveillance and monitoring of national and provincial trends with regard to major diseases and risk factors for disease; and |
| (x) | obtaining, processing and use of statistical returns; |
| (b) | proposed legislation pertaining to health matters prior to such legislation being introduced into Parliament or a provincial legislature; |
| (c) | norms and standards for the establishment of health establishments; |
| (d) | guidelines for the management of health districts; |
| (e) | the implementation of national health policy; |
| (f) | the national and provincial integrated health plans contemplated in section 21(5); |
| (g) | an integrated national strategy for health research; and |
| (h) | the performance of any other function determined by the Minister. |
| (2) | The National Health Council may determine the time frames, guidelines and the format for the preparation of national and provincial health plans. |
| (3) | The National Health Council must strive to reach its decisions by consensus but where a decision cannot be reached by consensus, the decision of the majority of the members of the National Health Council is the decision of the National Health Council. |
| (4) | The National Health Council may consult with or receive representations from any person, organisation, institution or authority. |
| (5) | The National Health Council may create one or more committees to advise it on any matter. |
| (6) | The National Health Council determines the procedures for its meetings. |
| (7) | A quorum for the National Health Council is at least half of the members plus one. |
| (8) | The Minister or his or her nominee contemplated in section 22(2)(a) must convene the first meeting of the National Health Council within 60 days of the commencement of this Act. |
