Angola

The Constitution is the fundamental law of the Republic of Angola.  The first title of the Constitution is dedicated to the fundamental principles of the state. In this chapter, article 21 addresses fundamental tasks of the state and those includes the promotion of policies that makes primary health care universal and free.

The second title is dedicated to the fundamental rights freedoms guaranties and duties. Those rights are directly applicable and biding all public and private entities (art.28). Under this title the right to health care is included in the article 77 as well as the right to a healthy and unpolluted environment (art.39).

The Constitution establishes areas with exclusive power to legislate granted to the National Assembly (i.e. areas for which only the National Assembly has the power to legislate). These areas, listed in article 164, include among other things, fundamental rights, freedoms and guarantees of citizens; basic elements of the system for the organization and functioning of local government and the involvement of citizens and traditional authorities in its work, the rules governing the state of emergency, the status and legal capacity of persons (non-exhaustive list), In addition, the Constitution refers to other areas where there is relative legislative competence (i.e. areas falling normally under the competence of the National Assembly with the possibility to grant an authorization to the government to legislate on these issues). These areas, listed in article 165 include , among other, basic elements of the scope and rules governing the public administration, including guarantees for users of the public administration, the status of public administration staff and the civil liability of the public administration, general system for public finances, basic elements of the national education, health and social security systems, definition of sectors within the economy reserved for the state, creation of taxes and the fiscal system and, general elements of town and country and urban planning (non-exhaustive list).

The law states the general dispositions of the health system in the first chapter of the law. That includes the general principles (art.1 to art.3) and the responsibilities of the state (art.6) among other aspects. The second chapter provides the organization of the health care system and health care providers (art.11 to art.13 and art. 17 to art. 22) that also includes regulation on health care workers (art. 14 to art.15). The third chapter is about the bases of the national health system as its characteristics and its funding which is financing by the state (art. 27) completed by user fees in some cases (art.28).

The Law establishes the tasks (art.2) and the structure and functions of the organs of the Ministry (art.5 to 23).

The National Health Policy has perspectives by 2025 and is focused on five general health priorities: (1) reduction of maternal and infant mortality; (2) control of communicable and non-communicable diseases; (3) adequacy of human resources and health technologies; (4) ensuring sustainable financing; and (4) efficient management of health system resources.

To achieve those priorities the National health Policies sets fourth specific objectives. The specific objectives are to: (a) Restructure and develop the National Health System (SNS), prioritizing access to primary health care for the entire population; (b) reduce maternal and infant mortality, as well as morbidity and mortality from primary diseases; (c) promote and preserve a general context and environment conducive to health; (d) empower individuals, families and communities to promote and protect health.

Those objectives will be achieved through strategic orientations. Some of the orientation to achieves goals by 2025 will be through the reinforcement of the health system across the local sector on primary health care. That includes a reorganization of the health system and the health care providers, the strengthening of the health care workforce and the health system information as well as the improvement of the availability of medicines, health infrastructure and health technology. The policy recognize that this will be only possible with a better sustainability of health financing. Another orientation is focused on improving the health benefit package. As well as the executive landscape. The policy proposes to implement first the health development plan and strong partnerships to the implementation of the health policy. This orientation also proposes to have a monitoring and evaluation mechanism regarding the objectives of the policies.