Department of Health South Africa

Address: Civitas Building, Cnr Andries and Struben Streets, PRETORIA,South Africa

Tel: (012) 395 9150

Web: http://www.doh.gov.z/

Company description

The Department of Health is the executive department of the South African government which is assigned to health matters.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (No 108 of 96) in Sections 27 and 28 gives everyone the right to access to health:

27. Health care, food, water and social security.

(1) Everyone has the right to have access to –

(a) health care services, including reproductive health care;
(b) sufficient food and water; and
(c) social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.

(2) The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights.
(3) No one may be refused emergency medical treatment.

28. Children.

(1) Every child has the right-

(a) to a name and a nationality from birth;
(b) to family care or parental care, or to appropriate alternative care when removed
from the family environment;
(c) to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services;
(d) to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation;
(e) to be protected from exploitative labour practices;
(f) not to be required or permitted to perform work or provide services that-

(i) are inappropriate for a person of that child´s age; or
(ii) place at risk the child´s well-being, education, physical or mental health or
spiritual, moral or social development;

(g) not to be detained except as a measure of last resort, in which case, in addition
to the rights a child enjoys under sections 12 and 35, the child may be detained
only for the, shortest appropriate period of time, and has the right to be –

(i)kept separately from detained persons over the age of 18 years; and
(ii)treated in a manner, and kept in conditions, that take account of the child´s age;

(h) to have a legal practitioner assigned to the child by the state, and at state expense, in civil proceedings affecting the child, if substantial injustice would otherwise result; and
(i) not to be used directly in armed conflict, and to be protected in times of armed
conflict.

(2) A child´s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.
(3) In this section “child’ means a person under the age of 18 years.

Products and services

Vision

A long and healthy life for all South Africans

Mission

To improve health status through the prevention of illnesses and the promotion of healthy lifestyles and to consistently improve the healthcare delivery system by focusing on access, equity, efficiency, quality and sustainability.