Health Legislation

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 Code provides rules regarding different rears of public health as the prevention and control of communicable diseases; sanitation and housing; and food and water protection among other aspects.

The Decree establishes the Code of Medical Ethics. The Code is applicable to any Doctors registered with the Medical Register, any performing a professional act, as well as to students performing a replacement or assisting a physician in the case provided for in article 84 of Code.

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.

This Decree implements the Social Security Code.

The law establishes the general conditions for implementing the principles governing Social Security, with the aim of providing salaried workers and their families with protection against the economic and social distress.

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 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.