| (a) | ensure the implementation of national health policy in so far as it relates to the national department; and |
| (b) | issue guidelines for the implementation of national health policy. |
| (2) | The Director-General must, in accordance with national health policy— |
| (a) | liaise with national health departments in other countries and with international agencies; |
| (b) | issue, and promote adherence to, norms and standards on health matters, including— |
| (i) | nutritional intervention; |
| (ii) | environmental conditions that constitute a health hazard; |
| (iii) | the use, donation and procurement of human tissue, blood, blood products and gametes; |
| (iv) | sterilisation and termination of pregnancy; |
| (v) | the provision of health services, including social, physical and mental health care; |
| (vi) | health services for convicted persons and persons awaiting trial; |
| (vii) | genetic services; and |
| (viii) | any other matter that affects the health status of people in more than one province; |
| (c) | promote adherence to norms and standards for the training of human resources for health; |
| (d) | identify national health goals and priorities and monitor the progress of their implementation; |
| (e) | co-ordinate health and medical services during national disasters; |
| (f) | facilitate and promote the provision of port health service and participate in intersectoral and interdepartmental collaboration; |
[Section 21(2)(f) amended by section 2 of Act No. 12 of 2013]
| (g) | promote health and healthy lifestyles; |
| (h) | promote community participation in the planning, provision and evaluation of health services; conduct and facilitate health systems research in the planning, evaluation and management of health services; |
| (i) | facilitate the provision of indoor and outdoor environmental pollution control services; |
| (j) | facilitate and promote the provision of health services for the management, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases; and |
| (k) | co-ordinate health services rendered by the national department with the health services rendered by provinces and provide such additional health services as may be necessary to establish a comprehensive national health system. |
| (a) | The Director-General must prepare strategic, medium term health and human resources plans annually for the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties of the national department. |
| (b) | The national health plans referred to in paragraph (a) must form the basis of— |
| (i) | the annual budget as required by the national department responsible for finance and state expenditure; and |
| (ii) | any other governmental planning exercise as may be required by any other law. |
| (4) | The national health plans must comply with national health policy. |
| (5) | The Director-General must integrate the health plans of the national department and provincial departments annually and submit the integrated health plans to the National Health Council. |
