The second District Health Council meeting was held on Tuesday 25 June 2013.
One of the main functions of the Council, appointed by the Provincial Minister for Health, is to promote co-operative governance and to help ensure co-ordination of planning, budgeting and monitoring of health services that affect residents in the District. The formation of this body is in accordance with legislation, specifically the National Health Act of 2003, Chapter 5. The Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, encourages our patients to take up matters in their area with a member of the District Health Council. “These council members discuss concerns and try and resolve concerns according to the specific needs of the region. Eden poses different health challenges than the West Coast, as an example.”
A district health council consists of:
• A person appointed by the provincial minister to represent him.
• A member of the relevant district council, who will also be the chair.
• A member of the council of each local municipality, nominated by the members of the relevant council.
• Not more than five other persons, appointed by the provincial minister, after consultation with the district council.
District councils feed their inputs to the provincial health council, which is composed of the six district councils’ chairpersons and chaired by the provincial minister. People of Eden must make use of this structure to communicate their health needs.
