FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES REGULATIONS

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 528.04

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

REGULATIONS

25th October, 2013 *

LEGAL NOTICE 390 of 2013.

The title of these regulations is the Functions and

Responsibilities of the Department of Health Services Regulations.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"Act" means the Health Act;

"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

*see regulation 1(2) of these Regulations, as originally promulgated.

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

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.