NCOP
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 476
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 21 October 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 32)
Mrs B L Abrahams (DA-Gauteng) to ask the Minister of Health:
With reference to his departmentâs booklet titled, National Health
Insurance â Health Care for all South Africans (details furnished), (a) how
is the independence of the Office of Healthcare Standards Compliance (OHSC)
guaranteed if he appoints it and also reports to him and (b) what are the
reasons for the OHSC not reporting directly to Parliament?
CW577E
REPLY:
a) The independence of the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC)
is guaranteed by providing a sound legal and regulatory framework to
govern its work of the Office, as seen by the security of tenure for
the Chief Executive Officer, control over human and financial
resources, decision-making autonomy, and reporting on findings. In
this we are in line with the guidance of the Constitutional Court
which held that it is structural and operational autonomy that is
important, along with a clear legal basis and mandate for a special
body, department or unit. We do have other independent bodies
appointed in a similar way, whose independence have never been
questioned and they have been functioning accordingly and without any
problems for a very long time, for example, the Health Professions
Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
b) It is felt that the measures taken are adequate.
END.