National Department of Health

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National Department of Health

• LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Nursing Bill 2003
• To amend the Nursing Act No 50 of 1978
• To provide for a legal framework for the
  transformation of the Nursing Council
• To streamline the relationship between the
  Minister and the Council, facilitate the
  implementation of departmental policies and
  filling of departmental needs relating to nurses.
  The draft Bill is to be submitted to Cabinet in
  April 2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Health Professions Amendment Bill, 2003
• To amend the Health Professions Act No 56 of
  1974
• To give the Council the powers it requires for
  the effective regulation of the professions
  concerned and to provide for related matters. The
  Bill also seeks to promote transformation of the
  Health Professions Council and to refine the
  relationship of the Council with the Minister.
  The draft will be submitted to Cabinet for
  approval in April 2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Dental Technicians Amendment Bill, 2003
• To amend the Dental Technicians Act No 19 of
  1979.
• To allow persons who gained informal training
  through experience to register as professionals.
  To effect the transformation of the Dental
  Technicians Council to streamline the
  relationship of the Council with the Minister.
  Bill to be submitted to Cabinet in April 2003

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Pharmacy Amendment Bill, 2003
• To amend the Pharmacy Act No 53 of 1974.
• To provide a legal framework for the
  transformation of the Pharmacy Council. There is
  a need for transformation of the council and to
  streamline its relationship with the Minister to
  enable it to better meet the needs and
  initiatives of the Department in relation to
  pharmacists and the pharmacy profession. Bill to
  be submitted to Cabinet in July 2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Traditional Healers Bill 2003
• To create a legal framework for the regulation
  of the profession of traditional healers and also
  to create a statutory body that would regulate
  the profession and protect the public.
• Bill to be submitted to Cabinet for approval in
  June 2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill, 2003
• To amend the Tobacco Products Control Act, No 83
  of 1993 so as to clearly create certain offences
  and to increase penalties applicable to certain
  offences. The draft Bill will be submitted to
  Cabinet in April 2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill
• The issue of the designation of facilities to
  perform terminations of pregnancy needs to be
  addressed. The thinking is that facilities
  equipped to deliver babies should be able to
  perform TOP.
• Amendment be submitted to Cabinet by or before
  September 2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Medicines and Related Substances Control
  Amendment Bill, 2003
• There is a need to regulate complementary
  medicines, to make provision for the creation of
  new categories of medicines and certain powers of
  the Medicines Control Council and to make further
  provision for the control by the Council of
  certain kinds of medical devices and various
  other matters of a technical nature. Bill to be
  submitted to Cabinet for approval in September
  2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Red Cross Bill, 2003
• There is a need for a legislative framework for
  a formal relationship between the South African
  Red Cross and the government to ensure that
  health efforts in rescue and disaster management
  are properly co-ordinated so as to avoid
  duplication of efforts of government and the
  South African Red Cross and a waste of scarce
  resources. Bill to be sent to Cabinet in
  September 2003
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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Sterilisation Amendment Bill
• There is a need to clarify certain provisions of
  the Sterilisation Act No 44 of 1998 so that they
  will be interpreted in a manner which supports
  the constitutional rights of persons affected by
  the Act. Currently the Act is not being
  interpreted correctly within the provinces.
• Amendment to be submitted to Cabinet in
  September 2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• Foodstuffs,Cosmetics and Disinfectants Amendment
  Act, 2003
• To amend the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and
  Disinfectants Act, 1973 (Act No 54 of 1973) so as
  to provide for stricter control of the spread of
  foodborne diseases and other matters relating to
  the control of foodstuffs to regulate food
  premises and the medical examination of food
  handlers and the importation and exportation of
  foodstuffs .
• Bill to be submitted to Cabinet in September
  2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• National Health Bill 2003
• To provide for a legislative and regulatory
  framework for a structured national health system
  within the Republic of South Africa.
• The National Health Bill was submitted to
  Cabinet in 2002. It must be certified by the
  State Law Advisors and tabled in Parliament in
  2003.

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LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE 2003

• South African Medical Research Council Amendment
  Bill 2003
• It is necessary to redefine a number of issues,
  including the role of the Medical Research
  Council, in the light of changes in current
  thinking relating to public health. The
  amendments will bring the activities and role of
  the MRC into line with Departmental public health
  initiatives and enable it to assist in meeting
  Departmental needs in this regard.
• Bill to be submitted to Cabinet for approval in
  July 2003.