Health Legislation

The Constitution was promulgated in 2005 and reviewed in 2018. The Constitution contains 292 articles addressing a broad range of issues as the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the fundamental principles of the state and institutional arrangements.

The Constitution includes 279 articles addressing a wide array of issues including the Kingdom and its constitution, the protection and promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms, the acquisition and loss of citizenship, the directive principles of state policy, as well as institutional arrangements (the executive, the legislature, the judicature, local governments, and traditional institutions). The Constitution also addresses public services, public finance, and international relations. (non-exhaustive list).

This Regulation establishes the legal framework applicable to the contracting of public works, and the supply of goods and services to the State, including consultancy and concessions.

This law sets out the foundations of the National Health Service, including the definition of health actions and services, on a permanent or occasional basis, by natural or legal persons governed by public or private law, with a view to promoting and protecting health, preventing, treating and rehabilitating illness.

The Constitution was promulgated in 2004 and modified in 2018. It includes 306 articles (17 titles) addressing a large number of issues as the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the fundamental principles of the state and institutional arrangements.

The Act establishes the Swaziland Standards Authority and provides for matters connected thereto.

The Constitution of Rwanda was promulgated in 2003 and reviewed in 2015. The Constitution contains 177 articles addressing a large number of issues as the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, fundamental principles of the state and institutional arrangements.

The Constitution of Sao Tome and Principe was promulgated by a Law No 1/2003. The Constitution of Sao Tome and Principe is the supreme law of the state that sets out the key values and principles of organization of the state, establishes rights, freedoms and obligations of the people, sets up the key bodies and institutes of the state, provides for the division of the powers within the country, etc. The Constitution of Sao Tome and Principe consists of 160 articles that are grouped into 5 parts.

This Act provides a framework for a structured uniform health system within the Republic, taking into account the obligations imposed by the Constitution and other laws on the national, provincial and local governments with regard to health services; and provides for matters connected therewith.

These regulations establish the Health Professionals Council. The council has, among other things, the following attributions: advise the Minister; work in collaboration with the appropriate bodies, ensure that health professional training offered in the country is of high standard; make sure that professional ethics are observed by professionals; follow up and supervise that the names of registered professionals and those who are cancelled from the registry due to various reasons are properly kept by the secretariat.

The Act establishes and regulates a decentralised local government system for the Gambia; it makes provision for the functions, powers and duties of local authorities and for matters connected therewith.

This diploma establishes the technical description of the different institutions of the National Health Service across the four levels of care, the classification and their specific functions. 

This Act regulates and controls the practice of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and allied health professions, and provides for matters connected and associated therewith.

The Constitution of Senegal was adopted 2001 and promulgated by law No 2001-03 of 22 January 2001. The Constitution consists of 103 articles that are grouped into 12 titles. The Constitution establishes key principles and values of the state, provides for the separation of powers, establishes the rights and freedoms of the people, sets up the key state organs and their mandates, etc.

This Act covers a broad array of issues pertaining to health and care profession and health facilities. It notably establishes a Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe, a Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe, an Allied Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe, a Natural Therapists Council of Zimbabwe, a Nurses Council of Zimbabwe, a Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe, a Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe, an Environmental Health Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe and a Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe. It further provides for the composition and functions of the Authority and those councils, for the registration of persons in health professions and the issue of practising certificates to registered persons; the exercise of disciplinary powers in relation to registered persons and for the registration and control of health institutions and the regulation of services provided.

This Act provides for the training, registration and licensing of medical laboratory technicians and technologists, provides for the establishment, powers and functions of the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board, and for connected purposes.

This Act amends and consolidates the law relating to local government and provides for the matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

The Constitution of Nigeria was promulgated in 1999 and reviewed in 2023. The Constitution contains 320 articles addressing a large number of issues as the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the fundamental principles of the state and institutional arrangements (see more below).

The Constitution of Eritrea includes 59 articles addressing, among others, the State's structure, symbols and languages, the National objectives and directive principles, the fundamental rights, freedoms and duties, the institutions in place including the National Assembly, the Executive power, and the judiciary.

The Constitution of the Gambia was adopted in 1997. It is the supreme law of the country and consists of 232 articles that are grouped into 23 chapters. The Constitution sets out the values and principles of the state, defines supremacy rules for the law, proclaims fundamental rights and freedoms, establishes key bodies of the state, etc.