Health Legislation

The National Health Insurance Regulations of 2004 govern the registration, management, and oversight of health insurance schemes licensed under the Health Insurance Act of 2003, detailing requirements for licensing conditions, and fees. They mandate non-discrimination, set minimum benefit standards, and outline procedures for interim management and the accreditation of healthcare facilities.

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 Children's Act of 1998 reforms and consolidates the law relating to children, provides for the rights of the child, maintenance and adoption, regulates child labour and apprenticeship, for ancillary matters concerning children generally and provides for related matters.

This Act gives effect within the Republic of South Africa to the relevant international legal instruments, principles and standards relating to refugees; provides for the reception into South Africa of asylum seekers; regulates applications for and recognition of refugee status; provides for the rights and obligations flowing from such status; and provides for matters connected therewith.

The Act consolidates the laws relating to registered medical schemes; provides for the establishment of the Council for Medical Schemes as a juridical entity; provides for the appointment of the Registrar of Medical Schemes; makes provision for the registration and control of certain activities of medical schemes; protects the interests of members of medical schemes; provides for measures for the co-ordination of medical schemes; and provides for incidental matters.

The Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act of 1996 establishes the Ghana Health Service, provides for related matters including its functions and membership; provides for the administration and management of institutions in the Health Service including state-owned hospitals and health stations; continues the existence and operation of Teaching Hospitals and provides for matters related to the foregoing.

The Constitution of South Africa was adopted in 1996 and approved by the Constitutional Court. It consists of 241 articles grouped into 14 chapters that are supplemented by 7 schedules. The Constitution is the prime law of the country and sets out the founding provisions of the organization of the state, regulates the civil, political, cultural and economic rights of the people, divides the powers within the state and establishes the key state institutions and organs, etc.

This Act determines the circumstances in which and conditions under which the pregnancy of a woman may be terminated; and provides for matters connected therewith.

The Pharmacy Act, 1994 is to revise the laws relating to pharmacy, to establish a Pharmacy Council, for the registration of pharmacies, the regulation and control of the practice of pharmacy, the distribution of pharmacies, the licensing of premises for pharmacies and to provide for related matters. This Act was repealed by the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857), section 114.

The Civil Service Act establishes the continued existence of the Civil Service in Ghana as part of the Public Services of Ghana, as outlined in Article 190 of the Constitution. Its primary objective is to assist the Government in the formulation and implementation of policies for national development. The Act defines the functions of the Civil Service, including policy initiation, research, implementation, and evaluation, and establishes the Office of the Head of the Civil Service along with its various directorates and units to support its operations.

The Constitution of Ghana is the supreme law of the country (article 1.2). It was adopted in 1992 and revised in 1996. It provides for the sharing of powers among a president, a parliament, a cabinet, a Council of State, and an independent judiciary. It contains 299 articles.

This Act consolidates and amends the laws providing for the establishment of the South African Pharmacy Board and for the training and registration of pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy students, unqualified assistants and pharmaceutical technicians; provides for the control of the practice of the pharmaceutical profession; and provides for matters incidental thereto.

This Act establishes the Health Professions Council of South Africa and professional boards; provides for control over the education, training and registration for and practising of health professions registered under this Act; and provides for matters incidental thereto.

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.

The Registration of Births and Deaths Act of 1956 provides for the registration of births, foetal deaths and deaths, and provides for burial grounds and for related matters.

The Act provides for the registration and control of medicines and related substances for human and animal use, establishes the Medicines Control Council, and outlines its powers and responsibilities. It includes provisions for the licensing of manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers, as well as measures to ensure the availability of affordable medicines. The Act also addresses the regulation of medicine pricing, generic substitution, labeling, and procedures for appeals and re-evaluation of registered medicines.