Health Legislation

The National Health Insurance Scheme Medicines List of 2023 provides a revised version of the Medicines List.

This Act repeals and replaces the Public Health Act of 1960, provides for the promotion, protection and improvement of public health and well-being in Sierra Leone, provides for the protection of individuals and communities from public health risks, provides for the prevention and control of the spread of infectious diseases, provides for local government and community participation in protecting public health, provides for early detection and prompt response to diseases and public health threats and provides for other related matters.

The Insurance Act of 2021 establishes the National Insurance Commission, and provides for the regulation and supervision of the insurance market and related matters.

This Act provides for the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers; provides for the establishment of the National Consumer Protection Commission and for other related matters.

The Right to Information Act of 2019 provides for the implementation of the constitutional right to information held by a public institution, subject to the exemptions that are necessary and consistent with the protection of the public interest in a democratic society, to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs and to provide for related matters.

The National Identity Register (Amendment) Act of 2017 amends the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750), to make further provision for the mode of application for identity cards, provide for the conditions and requirements for registration, prescribe information to be supplied by persons to whom national identity cards are to be issued and for related matters.

The Local Governance (Amendment) Act of 2017 amends the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) to provide for the discretion of the President to revoke the appointment of an appointed member of a District Assembly.

The Essential Medicines List of Ghana of 2017 is a comprehensive guide outlining the medicines deemed essential for addressing the primary health care needs of the population. It includes a wide range of medications selected based on their relevance to public health, evidence on efficacy and safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness, aimed at ensuring accessibility and affordability.

This Act repeals and replaces the National Pharmaceutical Procurement Unit Act, 2012 to establish the National Medical Supplies Agency as a public service agency responsible for the procurement, warehousing and distribution of drugs and medical supplies in a transparent and cost-effective manner for and on behalf of all public institutions throughout Sierra Leone.

The Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 is to establish the Ghana AIDS commission and the National HIV and AIDS Fund, to provide for the management of the Fund, to prevent and control the HIV and AIDS epidemic, to promote and protect the rights of persons living with HIV or AIDS and to provide for related purposes.

The Local Governance Act (Act 936) of 2016 provides for local governance in accordance with the Constitution; establishes a Local Government Service; provides for the establishment and administration of the District Assemblies Common Fund; provides for a National Development Planning System; defines and regulates planning procedures of District Assemblies; co-ordinates, facilitates, monitors and supervises internal audit activities within District Assemblies and related matters.

This Act provides for the amendment and consolidation of the laws relating to the compulsory registration of citizens and non-citizens resident in Sierra Leone, provides for the issuance of identity cards, provides for the establishment of the National Civil Registration Authority responsible for the registration of births adoptions, deaths, marriages, divorces and nullities throughout Sierra Leone and provides for other related matters.

The Sierra Leone Basic Package of Essential Health Services provides a framework and guiding document for improving health service delivery in Sierra Leone. It represents a commitment from the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that a basic level of essential health care service delivery is available to its people.

The Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act of 2013 establishes the Allied Health Professions Council, the Medical and Dental Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Pharmacy Council, the Psychology Council and provides for related purposes.

The National Health Insurance Act was adopted to establish a National Health Insurance Authority to implement a National Health Insurance Scheme, establish a National Health Insurance Fund to pay for the cost of health care services to members of the Scheme, establish private health insurance schemes, and to provide for related matters.

The National Public Health Act revises and consolidates the law relating to public health to prevent disease, promote, safeguard, maintain and protect the health of humans and animals and to provide for related matters.

The Mental Health Act of 2012 provides for mental health care and for related matters. Among other things, it establishes a Mental Health Authority (sections 1 to 23), enshrines a set of rights for persons with mental disorder (sections 54 to 63), and establishes a mental health fund (sections 80 to 87).

The Data Protection Act of 2012 establishes a Data Protection Commission, to protect the privacy of the individual and personal data by regulating the processing of personal information, to provide the process to obtain, hold, use or disclose personal information and for related matters.

The Health Institutions and Facilities Act of 2011 provides for a Health Facilities Regulatory Agency to license facilities for the provision of public and private health care services, establishes the Mortuaries and Funeral Facilities Agency to control and regulate facilities connected with the storage and disposal of human remains, establishes an Ambulance Council to regulate the operation of ambulance services in the country in accordance with policy standards and to provide for related matters.

The National Identity Register Act of 2008 provides for the capture of personal information by individuals by the National Identity Authority for the issue of national identity cards; for the protection of the personal information; for conditions of access, use, retention and disclosure of information and for related matters.