Health Legislation

These Regulations regulate the surveillance and the control of notifiable medical conditions in South Africa.

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.

This Act provides for an integrated and co-ordinated disaster management policy that focuses on preventing or reducing the risk of disasters, mitigating the severity of disasters, emergency preparedness, rapid and effective response to disasters and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation; regulates the establishment and functioning of national, provincial and municipal disaster management centres; regulates disaster management volunteers and matters incidental thereto.

The Proclamation regulates different aspects of Public Health such as food quality control and standards (Articles 8 and 9); water quality control (Article 10); occupational health (Article 11), waste handling and disposal (Article 12); availability of toilet facilities in health institutions (Article 13); control of bathing places and pools (Article 14); disposal of dead bodies (art.15); control at entrance and exit ports in Ethiopia making mandatory vaccines for people coming from outside (Article 16); and Communicable Diseases (art.17).

The General Health Regulations set out comprehensive guidelines and standards for public health and hygiene, including the control of communicable diseases, sanitation, food safety, and environmental health.