of Health Services Regulations, 2013

L.N. 390 of 2013

HEALTH ACT, 2013

(ACT XI of 2013)

Functions and Responsibilities of the Department

of Health Services Regulations, 2013

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by articles 7 and 31 of

the Health Act, the Minister for Health has made the following

regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is the Functions and

Responsibilities of the Department of Health Services Regulations,

2013. (2) These regulations shall be deemed to have come into force

on the 25th October, 2013.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"Act" means the Health Act, 2013;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for Health.

(1) It shall be the function of the Department of Health

Services in general to ensure the effective and efficient operation and

delivery of healthcare services with an emphasis on clinical and

corporate governance, service delivery and quality review within an

established framework of controlled decentralization and autonomy

involving user participation.

(2) In particular the functions and duties of this Department

shall include

(a) to ensure quality of services delivered through the

public health system;

(b) to ensure that standards and regulations adopted by

Government are implemented by health care providers;

(c)

to provide a safe and secure environment for users

and employees;

(d)

to oversee good governance of state healthcare

services;

(e)

to ensure that public health services are effective,

caring and responsive to users needs;

(f)

to coordinate between public health services

providers to ensure integrated and aligned service provision;

(g) to develop operational policies and synergies to

maintain an integrated and seamless service at both community

and institutional level;

(h) to advise upon the allocation of human, financial

and other resources between public health service providers;

(i)

to coordinate the professional aspects of health care

service provision including postgraduate training and

development;

(j)

to anticipate the needs of professional staff, and

other human resources, and to collaborate with third parties,

including University, MCAST and other institutions, public and

private, in order to ensure the training and development of

healthcare professionals and non-healthcare personnel

according to their needs;

(k)

to coordinate between the health and social care

systems;

(l)

to implement service level agreements with public

health service providers to assure the performance of public

health service organisations;

(m) to set objectives and performance indicators for

clinical outcomes;

(n) to monitor the performance and outcomes of public

health service providers to ensure that resources are being used

in an effective and efficient manner;

(o) to advise upon innovative models of service

provision and delivery through consultation with stakeholders,

including unions;

(p) to represent the Ministry in negotiations of

agreements, including collective agreements, with unions

representing professionals and other personnel;

(q) to maintain national and international networking in

the field of public health and representing Government in

international public health related fora;

(r)

to cooperate on issues within the remit of the

Department, with local and international organisations

particularly with the institutions of the European Union

involved in health;

(s)

to promote research, teaching and training;

(t)

to carry out such other function or functions as the

Minister may from time to time determine and direct;

(u) to implement any other matter required for the

fulfilment of its mission, and for the execution of duties

pertaining to the State, as established in the Act.

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