The long-awaited National Health Bill that spells out the government’s vision of a single national health care system across the three levels of government was approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday.
Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang told Parliament in June that in drafting the proposed framework legislation, her department had been guided by the broad public interest and the goal of creating and sustaining a health system that benefits all
South Africans.
”Its drafting has involved a number of trade offs and, in seeking to balance various interests, we have kept our eyes firmly on the need to prioritise services for the poor,” she said in her budget speech at the time.
The bill’s purpose is to give a legal framework for a national health system which encompasses public, private, non-governmental and other providers of health services.
The bill sets out the rights and duties of health care
providers, health workers, establishments and users.
It also aims to promote progressive realisation of rights of South Africans to health services and to an environment that is not harmful to their well-being, the department said in a recent statement.
It will also promote the right to basic health care services for children.
Meanwhile, the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill was also approved on Wednesday, government representative Joel Netshitenzhe said at a post-Cabinet briefing.
Health department representative Jo-anne Collinge said the draft law was aimed at ensuring that the principal act, which was more than 30 years old, was in line with the Constitution. – Sapa