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Health Committees Act

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
CONSOLIDATED EDITION 2006

Commencement: 14 February 2005

CHAPTER 296
HEALTH COMMITTEES

Act 34 of 2003

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1. Definitions
2. Appointments
3. Composition of each committee
4. Meetings of the committee
5. Functions of the committee
6. Powers of the committee
7. Health committees not to apply to hospitals
8. Funds of the committee
9. Misuse of funds of the committee
10. Distribution and accountability of health fees
11. Application of the Public Finance and Economic Management Act
12. Regulations

HEALTH COMMITTEES

An Act to establish health committees throughout Vanuatu and for related purposes.

1. Definitions

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

"health area" means the area served by one or more health facilities;

"health committee" means a committee appointed under section 2;

"health facility" means a health centre, dispensary or aid post;

"health fees" means any consultation fee at any health facility;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for health;

"provincial health supervisor" means a provincial health supervisor appointed by the Ministry of Health to one of the 6 provinces in Vanuatu.

2. Appointment

(1) A health committee is to be appointed for each health area by the provincial health supervisor of the province in which the health area is located.

(2) The appointments are to be made in writing.

3. Composition of each committee

(1) A health committee is to consist of 4 members.

(2) The members of the committee are:

(a) the head nurse of that health centre; and

(b) a representative of the chiefs of the communities within the relevant health area; and

(c) a representative of the youths of the communities within the relevant health area; and

(d) a representative of the women in the communities within the relevant health area.

(3) No allowances or other form of remuneration is payable to any member of the committee.

(4) A member of the committee is to be appointed for a period of 2 years and can be reappointed.

4. Meetings of the committee

(1) A health committee is to meet at such times as are necessary for carrying out its functions under this Act.

(2) The head nurse is to be the secretary for a health committee.

(3) The committee is to determine and regulate its own procedures.

5. Functions of the committee

A health committee has the following functions:

(a) to maintain each health facility within the relevant health area;

(b) to charge and collect health fees;

(c) to oversee the general sanitation of the communities within the relevant health area;

(d) to use or spend money received by way of health fees for the overall maintenance of the health facilities and sanitation of the communities within the relevant health area;

(e) to ensure that primary health care services are provided to the community.

6. Powers of the committee

A health committee has power to do all things that are necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions.

7. Health committees not to apply to hospitals
   

Health committees are not to be appointed for hospitals.

8 Funds of the committee

The funds of a health committee consist of:

(a) money received by the committee by way of health fees; and

(b) any other money received by the committee from any other source.

9 Misuse of funds of the committee

A person must not misuse any funds of the committee.

Penalty: a fine not exceeding VT 100,000 or a term of imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.

10 Distribution and accountability of health fees

(1) All health fees charged by a health facility are payable to the health committee responsible for that facility.

(2) The provincial health supervisor in consultation with the head nurse of that facility must:

(a) check the receipt books; and

(b) balance the accounts.

(3) The provincial health supervisor may remove a member from a health committee if that member misuses the funds of the health committee.

(4) In carrying out his or her duties under subsection (2), the provincial health supervisor may seek assistance from the Ministry responsible for Finance.

11 Application of the Public Finance and Economic Management Act

The Public Finance and Economic Management Act [Cap. 244] does not apply to this Act.

12 Regulations

(1) The Minister may by regulation prescribe health fees required under this Act.

(2) The Minister may make regulations necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.