National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61 of 2003)

Chapter 1 : Objects of Act, responsibility for health and eligibility for free health services

Purchase

The objects of this Act are to regulate national health and to provide uniformity in respect of health services across the nation by—

(a) establishing a national health system which—

(i)	encompasses public and private providers of health services; and

(ii)	provides in an equitable manner the population of the Republic with the best possible health services that available resources can afford;

(b)	setting out the rights and duties of health care providers, health workers, health establishments and users; and

(c)	protecting, respecting, promoting and fulfilling the rights of—

(i)	the people of South Africa to the progressive realisation of the constitutional right of access to health care services, including reproductive health care;

(ii)	the people of South Africa to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being;

(iii)

children to basic nutrition and basic health care services contemplated in section 28(1)(c) of the Constitution; and

(iv)	vulnerable groups such as women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.