In respect of poor services at some facilities and the extent to which the National Department of Health is responsible for this, it was reported that the National Health Act was processed in 2003 but was never promulgated until 1 March 2012. In the absence of this law, the role of the National Department of Health at the provinces has been limited. One of the challenges reported by the National Department of Health related to its priorities such as the reduction of maternal mortality, reduction of infant mortality and the reduction of the mortality rate of children below the age of five. It reported that provinces tended to deviate from these set priorities. The National Treasury explained that provincial departments of health were often faced with a range of demands for money. This often forced them to shift from the priorities set by the National Department of Health. The protection of priorities was noted as a matter of concern for the National Department of Health. The Department also pointed out that concurrent functions in respect of health would remain a challenge moving forward.