Health Service Commission Act

Section Short title Section This Act may be cited as the Health Service Commission Act, 2001.

Section Interpretation Section In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “ Chairperson ” means the Chairperson of the Commission ; “ Commission ” means the Health Service Commission established by article 169 of the Constitution; “ currency point ” means the value specified in the First Schedule to this Act in relation to a currency point; “ health professional ” means any person registered under any of the enactments specified in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Act as any of the categories of professionals specified in Part II of that Schedule; “ health worker ” means a health professional , administrative, scientific and support staff employed in the health service, and designated by the Commission in consultation with the Public Service Commission ; “ Minister ” means the Minister responsible for health; “ Secretary ” means the Secretary to the Commission appointed under section 9 of this Act.

Section The health service Section For the purposes of clause (5) of article 170 of the Constitution the public officers who constitute the health service are the following categories of persons employed in the public service— health professionals; such administrative, scientific and support staff as may be appointed by the Commission for the efficient administration, management and delivery of health services in Uganda.

Section Other staff of the Commission Section The Commission shall have such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the discharge of its functions. The officers and employees referred to in subsection (1) shall be public officers. Any officer of the Commission , other than the Secretary may be directed by the Commission to take and subscribe the oath specified in Part II of the Third Schedule to this Act.

Section Meetings and decisions of the Commission Section In dealing with matters of discipline including removal from the Service, the Commission shall, subject to article 173 of the Constitution, observe the rules of natural justice and in particular, the Commission shall ensure that an officer against whom disciplinary proceedings are being taken is— The Chairperson of the Commission shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and in his or her absence, the Deputy Chairperson shall preside; and in the absence of both of them, a member designated by the President to act as Chairperson under clause (8) of article 169 of the Constitution shall preside. In accordance with article 251 of the Constitution, a decision of the Commission requires the concurrence of the majority of all its members. The quorum of the Commission at any meeting shall be four. The Commission may, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, act notwithstanding the absence of any member or any vacancy in the office of a member. informed about the particulars of the case against him or her; given the right to defend himself or herself and present his or her defence in writing and where necessary appear bef...

Section Immunity of members and staff of the Commission Section A member of the Commission or any employee or other person performing any function of the Commission under the direction of the Commission , shall not be personally liable to any civil proceedings for any act done in good faith in the performance of those functions.

Section Funds and expenses of the Commission Section The emoluments of the members of the Commission and other administrative expenses shall be prescribed by Parliament and shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund. Parliament shall ensure that adequate resources and facilities are provided to the Commission to enable it to perform its functions effectively. The Commission shall be self-accounting and shall deal directly with the Ministry responsible for finance on matters relating to its finances. The funds of the Commission may, with the approval of the Minister responsible for finance, include grants and donations that may be received by the Commission to enable it to discharge its functions.

Section Seal of Commission Section The Commission shall have a seal which shall be in such form as the Commission may determine and, subject to the provisions of any law, be applied in such circumstances as the Commission may determine.

Section Composition of Commission and appointment of Commissioners Section The Chairperson , Deputy Chairperson and the five other members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament in accordance with article 169 of the Constitution. The Chairperson shall be a Senior Medical Practitioner eligible for appointment to the Post of Senior Consultant. At least three of the members of the Commission , shall be persons who have substantial experience in human health science. In appointing members of the Commission under article 169 of the Constitution, article 32 shall be taken into account. A person is not qualified to be a member of the Commission unless he or she is of high moral character and proven integrity.

Section Oath of Commissioners Section Every member of the Commission shall, before assuming his or her duties as Commissioner, take and subscribe the Oath specified in Part I of the Third Schedule to this Act.

Section Commissioners to relinquish particular offices Section A person holding any of the following offices shall relinquish that office on appointment as a member of the Commission — a member of Parliament; a member of a local government Council; a member of the executive of a political party or a political organisation; or a public officer. All the members of the Commission shall be full time Commissioners on contract terms.

Section Chairperson of Commission Section The Chairperson shall be the head of the Commission and shall be responsible for the administration of the Commission and shall monitor and supervise the work of the Secretary and other staff of the Commission . The Deputy Chairperson shall deputize for the Chairperson in his or her absence and undertake such other duties as the Chairperson shall assign to him or her from time to time.

Section Functions of Commission Section The Commission shall have the following functions— advise the President in performing, in relation to the Health Service, his or her functions under article 172 of the Constitution; have power to appoint persons to hold or act in any office in the health service, including the power to confirm appointments, to exercise disciplinary control over those persons and to remove them from office; review the terms and conditions of service, standing orders, training and qualifications of members of the health service and any other matters connected with their management and welfare and make recommendations on them to government; perform such other functions as may be prescribed by the Constitution, this Act or any other law. The annual report required by clause (4) of article 170 of the Constitution to be submitted to Parliament shall be submitted within three months after the financial year or such other date as Parliament may require. The report shall be addressed to the Speaker of Parliament and signed by the Chairperson of the Commission ; and a copy of it shall be sent to the Minister who shall forward it to the President. In the exercise of its...

Section Secretary to the Commission Section The Secretary shall, subject to the general control of the Commission , be responsible for— The Commission shall have a Secretary who shall be a public officer appointed by the President on the advice of the Public Service Commission . The Secretary shall be a person qualified to be appointed to the office of Permanent Secretary . The Secretary shall, before assuming the performance of his or her functions under this Act, take and subscribe the Oath specified in Part II of the Third Schedule to this Act. carrying out the policy decisions and the day to day administration and management of the affairs of the Commission and the control of the other staff of the Commission ; arranging the business for and recording and keeping of the minutes of all decisions and proceedings of the Commission at its meetings; the administration and control of all funds provided to the Commission and shall be the accounting officer in accordance with the Public Finance Act; and performing any other functions assigned to him or her by the Commission . The Secretary is, unless in any particular case the Commission otherwise directs in writing, entitled to attend...

Section Performance of delegated functions Section Where any function of the President is delegated to the Commission under clause (3) of article 172 of the Constitution, the Commission may perform that function without seeking or acting on the advice of any person.

Section Consultation Section Before the Commission advises the President to appoint any person to an office in the Health Service in accordance with article 172 of the Constitution, the Commission may, if it considers it expedient, consult the Judicial Service Commission , the Education Service Commission or the Public Service Commission , as the case may be.

Section Enforcement of attendance. etc Section The Commission may require any person to attend and give evidence before it concerning any matter which it may properly consider in exercise of its functions under the Constitution and this Act and may require the production of any document relating to any matter by any person attending before it. The Commission may cause a witness to be examined on oath or affirmation which shall be administered by the Secretary or by any other person authorised by the Commission .

Section Failure to appear or produce document Section Any person, other than a person who is notified to appear before the Commission solely in connection with his or her application for appointment to the Health Service, who, without reasonable cause to do so, or who wilfully fails to produce any document in his or her possession when required to do so by the Commission under section 17 of this Act, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three months or both.

Section Attendance allowance Section Any person summoned by and appearing before the Commission as a witness is entitled to be paid by way of reimbursement of his or her expenses, such allowances as are payable to a witness appearing before the High Court as a witness in criminal proceedings. Any other person invited by the Commission to attend any meeting of the Commission co assist the Commission may be paid by the Commission such allowances as the Commission may consider reasonable. Notwithstanding anything in this section, the Commission may reimburse any person invited to an interview in connection with his or her application for appointment to the Health Service in respect of his or her travel expenses for that purpose. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Commission may appeal.

Section Immunities of witnesses Section A witness before the Commission shall have the same immunities and privileges as if he or she were a witness before the High Court.

Section Improper influence and false information Section Any person who otherwise than in the course of his or her duty, directly or indirectly by himself or herself or by any other person in any manner whatsoever, influences or attempts to influence any decision of the Commission , commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding thirty currency points or imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or both. Nothing in this section shall be taken to make unlawful the giving of a reference or testimonial to any applicant or candidate for any public office or the supplying of any information or assistance requested by the Commission . Any person who, in connection with the performance by the Commission of its functions, wilfully gives to the Commission any information which he or she knows to be false or does not believe to be true, or which he or she knows to be false by reason of the omission of any material particular, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty currency points or imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or both. For the purpose of this section, “ Commission ” means the Commission , any member of the Commissio...

Section Priviledge of communication Section Unless the Chairperson consents in writing to the production or disclosure, no person shall, in any legal proceedings, be permitted or compelled to produce or disclose any communication, written or oral, which has taken place between— the Commission or any member or officer of the Commission and the President, Vice-President, Minister , the Public Service Commission , the Judicial Service Commission , the Education Service Commission or any member or officer of it or a public officer; or any member or officer of the Commission and the Chairperson ; or any member or officer of the Commission in the exercise of or in connection with the exercise of the functions of the Commission .

Section Improper disclosure of information Section Any member or officer of the Commission and any other person who without the written consent of the Commission , knowingly publishes or discloses to any person, otherwise than in the performance of his or her official functions, the contents of any document, communication or information, whatsoever which has come to his or her notice in the course of his or her duties in relation to the Commission , commits an offence, and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding fifteen currency points or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both. Any person who knows of any information which to his or her knowledge has been disclosed in contravention subsection (1) of this section, who publishes or communicates it to any other person otherwise than for the purpose of any prosecution under this Act or in the course of his or her official duty, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding fifteen currency points or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.

Section Consent to prosecution Section A prosecution for an offence against this Act shall not be instituted except with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Section Delegation of functions of Commission Section The Commission may, by writing, delegate any of its functions to a District Service Commission or any other authority or officer. The Commission shall issue guidelines to be used by District Service Commission under subsection (3) of section 56 of the Local Governments Act, 1997. The Commission shall render such advice to the districts as may be required regarding personnel management in ‘the district health service.

Section District Service Commissions Section A District Service Commission shall take into account the provisions of section 25 in the performance of its functions in relation to personnel employed in the health service. Each District Service Commission shall submit a report to the Commission on the performance of its functions in relation to the Health Service after every four months and whenever a report is required by the Health Service Commission . When hearing any disciplinary action against any member of staff in the health services, the District Service Commission shall use guidelines provided by the Health Service Commission .

Section Consultation with other Commissions Section The Commission may, liaise and consult with other Service Commissions established by the Constitution with a view to harmonizing standing orders, regulations and remuneration of public officers.

Section Consultation with Minister Section The Commission shall from time to time consult with the Minister on matters of policy relating to Health in the carrying out of its functions.

Section Code of conduct Section This Part of the Act shall constitute a code of conduct and shall be observed by all health workers.

Section Responsibility to patient or client Section A health worker shall hold the health, safety, and interest of the patient or client to be of first consideration and shall render due respect to each patient at all times and in all circumstances. A health worker shall ensure that no action or omission on his or her part, or within his or her sphere of responsibility, is detrimental to the interest, condition or safety of a patient. A health worker shall provide a patient or client with relevant, clear and accurate information about his or her health and the management for his or her condition. Treatment and other forms of medical intervention to a patient who has the capacity to consent shall not be undertaken without the patient’s full, free and informed consent, except in emergencies when such intervention may be done in the best interest of the patient; in the case of a minor or other incompetent patients consent shall be obtained from a parent or a relative or guardian. A health worker shall respect the confidentiality of information relating to a patient and his or her family; such information shall not be disclosed to anyone without the patient’s or appropriate guardian’s...

Section Responsibility to the community Section A health worker shall ensure that no action or omission on his or her part, or within his or her sphere of responsibility is detrimental to the interest, condition or safety of the public. A health worker shall promote the provision of effective health services and shall notify the health and other relevant authorities whenever he or she becomes aware of any hazard to the health of the community.

Section Responsibility to health unit or place of work Section A health worker shall abide by rules and regulations governing the place of work and shall conform with the expectations of the health unit and strive to fulfil the mission of the institution.

Section Responsibility to the law and profession Section Subject to subsection (5) of section 30 a health worker shall observe the law, uphold the dignity and honour of his or her profession, and accepted ethical principles. A health worker shall not engage in activities that bring discredit to his or her profession or the delivery of health services, and shall expose without fear or favour all those engaged in illegal or unethical conduct and practice. Subject to subsection (5) of section 30 a health worker shall respect the confidentiality of information relating to a patient or client and his or her family; such information shall not be disclosed to anyone without the patient’s or appropriate guardian’s written consent except where it is required by law. A health worker shall keep abreast of professional knowledge in order to maintain a high standard of professional competence through continuing professional education proof of which education shall be given by a method that the Commission shall from time to time prescribe. A health worker shall not directly or indirectly advertise his or her professional skills or allow himself or herself to be advertised directly or indirectly...

Section Responsibility to colleagues Section A health worker shall co-operate with his or her professional colleagues, recognize and respect each other’s expertise in the interest of providing the best possible holistic care.

Section Responsibility in research Section A health worker shall not participate in health research that does not conform with national and internationally accepted guidelines.

Section Regulations Section The Commission may, by statutory instrument, make regulations— providing for the organisation and work of the Commission ; providing for consultation by the Commission with other persons other than members of the Commission ; prescribing anything necessary for the better carrying into effect of the provisions of this Act.

Section Standing orders Section The Commission shall make standing orders providing for the administration and conduct, and the terms and conditions of service in the health service. Until the Commission makes standing orders under this section standing orders in force in the Public Service immediately before the commencement of this Act, shall, with the necessary modifications, continue to apply to the health service.

Section Saving and transitional Section Subject to the provisions of this section, any person employed in the service of the Ministry of Health immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue in service as a member of the health service on terms not less favourable than before. Persons employed in the service of the Ministry of Health who at the commencement of this Act, are employed in the service of a district shall continue to be employed in the service of the district but shall form part of the health service. The Public Service Commission may, in consultation with the Commission , make such arrangements as may be expedient for the practical implementation of this section and may, for that purpose in co-operation with the Commission and any other Service Commission effect such steps including transfers or other measures as may appear to be prudent without prejudicing the interests of the public officers concerned.

Section Minister to amend Schedules Section The Minister may, with the approval of the Cabinet, by statutory instrument, amend the First or Second Schedule to this Act.