Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon Members of Parliament, distinguished guests, the Department of Health, under the leadership of this Minister, Deputy Minister and director- general, is moving in the direction of improving the health of South Africans. I am very excited that since the Minister took over this portfolio, health, as a sector, has had a positive reception in the minds of South Africans. Minister, you are being celebrated by our fellow South Africans as the light that has come to shine for many. Health is a fundamental human right, indispensable for the exercise of other human rights. Despite what some might choose to dismiss as a hopeless situation, for us, a lot is happening. A baby is being born, and it's not an easy birth; it is going to take longer. We have overcome much that many thought insurmountable through adherence to those practices. I am convinced that this strategy is capable of addressing the key problems that the Department of Health has been having. I am excited, because this department has identified what have been the main problems for the health sector, and some of these have tarnished the image of this glorious profession of ours.
The National Health Amendment Bill deals with the composition of the board, which is dealt with in clause 79(b). It stipulates that the board should consist of between seven and 12 members, appointed by the Minister. Five members should be experts in the health and related fields, and one each should have knowledge of the law; economics and financial matters; the private health care sector; public health care and administration; quality assurance; and one representative each from organised labour and civil society or the community. Finally, the two ad hoc members of the board include the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer.
The appointment of members of the board is done by the Minister, after a process of public nomination of suitable persons and after consultation with the relevant bodies and institutions. Board members hold office for at least three years - the term may be determined by the Minister - and they are eligible for reappointment for an additional term. Disqualification from the membership of the board could be as a result of not being a South African citizen, being an unrehabilitated insolvent, having been convicted of a criminal offence involving dishonesty and sentenced to imprisonment, and/or having been removed from an office of trust.
The appointment of the CEO is done by the Minister after consultation with the board. The CEO holds office for a term of five years, which may be renewed for an additional five years. The clause also makes provision for the Minister, after consultation with the board, to remove the CEO due to serious misconduct, incapacity or incompetence and to appoint an acting