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Parirenyatwa Hospitals Act


Published: 2001

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Section

1. Short title.

2. Interpretation.

PART II

PARIRENYATWA HOSPITALS BOARD OF GOVERNORS

3. Establishment of Parirenyatwa Hospitals Board of Governors.

4. Composition of Board.

5. Conditions of office of members.

6. Appointment of members where provisions of section 4 not followed.

7. Disqualification for appointment or election as member.

8. Vacation of office of members.

9. Minister may require member to vacate office or suspend him.

10. Filling of vacancies on Board.

11. Meetings and decisions of Board.

12. Committees of Board.

13. Executive Committee.

14. Finance Committee.

15. Medical Appointments Committee.

16. Restrictions relating to member with interest or candidate for appointment.

17. Validity of decisions and acts of Board.

18. Contracts and instruments of Board.

PART III

FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD AND TRANSFER OF ASSETS

19. Functions of Board.

20. Powers of Board.

21. By-laws of Board.

22. Transfer of certain assets, rights, liabilities and obligations to Board and construction of future donations to Ministry, etc.

PART IV

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS OF BOARD

23. Conduct of financial affairs of Board.

24. Funds of Board.

25. Accounts and reserves of Board.

26. Audit of accounts of Board.

PART V

STAFF OF HOSPITALS

27. This Part does not derogate from laws relating to Public Service.

28. Appointment, functions and powers of Medical Superintendent and Deputy Medical Superintendent.

29. Persons to be provided by Minister.

30. Staff may be appointed by Board.

31. Powers of Board in respect of persons provided by Minister.

PART VI

GENERAL

32. Limitation of liability of Board.

33. Actions in delict to be taken against State.

34. Proceedings on failure of Board to comply with Act.

35. Board not bound by certain laws.

36. Use of patented inventions by Board.

37. Amendment of First Schedule and transitional provisions.

38. Regulations.

FIRST SCHEDULE: Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

SECOND SCHEDULE: Powers of Board.

AN ACT to establish the Parirenyatwa Hospitals Board of Governors to manage and control the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and to provide for its functions, relating to the care and treatment of the sick and medical education and research, and its powers; to provide for the transfer of certain movable assets and certain liabilities to the Parirenyatwa Hospitals Board of Governors and to regulate the financial affairs thereof; to provide for the staffing of such Hospitals; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.

[Date of commencement: 1st July, 1975.]

PART I

PRELIMINARY

1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Parirenyatwa Hospitals Act [Chapter 15:07].

2 Interpretation

In this Act-

"Association member" means a member appointed in terms of paragraph ( f ) or (h) of subsection (1) of section four;

"Board" means the Parirenyatwa Hospitals Board of Governors established by section three;

"Chairman" means the chairman of the Board appointed in terms of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section four;

"clinical teaching staff" means staff appointed to any of the Hospitals in terms of paragraph (c) of section thirty;

"clinical teaching staff member" means a member appointed in terms of paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section four;

"consultant member" means the member appointed in terms of paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section four;

"dental practitioner" means a dental practitioner registered as such in terms of the

Health Professions Act [Chapter 27:19];

[amended by Act 6/2000 with effect from the 2nd April, 2001.]

"Deputy Medical Superintendent" means the Deputy Medical Superintendent of the Hospitals appointed in terms of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section twentyeight;

"ex officio member" means the member referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section four;

"Executive Committee" means the committee established in terms of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section twelve;

"Finance Committee" means the committee established in terms of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section twelve;

"financial year" means the period commencing on the fixed date and ending on the 30th June next following that date and thereafter the period of twelve months ending on the 30th June each year;

"honorary consultant" means a medical practitioner or dental practitioner appointed

to any of the Hospitals in terms of paragraph (b) of section thirty;

"Hospitals" means the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals specified in the First Schedule;

"lay member" means a member referred to in subparagraph (i) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section four;

"Medical Advisory Committee on Appointments" means the committee established in terms of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section twelve;

"medical practitioner" means a medical practitioner registered as such in terms of the

Health Professions Act [Chapter 27:19];

[amended by Act 6/2000 with effect from the 2nd April, 2001.]

"Medical Superintendent" means the Medical Superintendent of the Hospitals appointed in terms of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section twenty-eight; "member" means a member of the Board referred to in subsection (1) of section four; "Minister" means the Minister of Health and Child Welfare or any Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign the administration of this Act;

"Ministry member" means a member referred to in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section four;

"University member" means a member appointed in terms of paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section four;

"Zimbabwe Medical Association member" means a member appointed in terms of paragraph ( f ) of subsection (1) of section four;

"Zimbabwe Nurses Association member" means a member appointed in terms of paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section four.

PART II

PARIRENYATWA HOSPITALS BOARD OF GOVERNORS

3 Establishment of Parirenyatwa Hospitals Board of Governors

There is hereby established a board, to be known as the Parirenyatwa Hospitals Board of Governors, which shall be a body corporate and shall in its corporate name be capable of suing and being sued and, subject to this Act, of performing all such acts as bodies corporate may by law perform.

4 Composition of Board

(1) Subject to section six, the Board shall consist of fourteen members, of whom-- (a) one shall be a person who is not practising medicine for gain appointed as chairman by the Minister; and

(b) one shall be the Medical Superintendent ex officio; and (c) five shall be appointed by the Minister, of whom- (i) four shall be persons who are not medical practitioners; and (ii) one shall be an officer of the Ministry responsible for health; and

(d) two shall be appointed by the Minister, of whom-

(i) one shall be selected from a panel of three persons who are staff members of the Faculty of Medicine whose names have been submitted by the Council of the University of Zimbabwe; and

(ii) one shall be selected from a panel of three persons who are not staff members of the Faculty of Medicine whose names have been submitted by the Council of the University of Zimbabwe; and

(e) two shall be members of the clinical teaching staff appointed by the Minister from a panel of four persons, all of whom shall be full-time staff members of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zimbabwe, elected by the clinical teaching staff in the manner fixed in terms of subsection (3); and

( f ) one shall be a medical practitioner appointed by the Minister from a panel of three persons whose names have been submitted by the governing body of the Zimbabwe Medical Association; and

(g) one shall be an honorary consultant appointed by the Minister from a panel of two persons whose names have been submitted by the honorary consultants; and

(h) one shall be a nurse appointed by the Minister from a panel of three persons whose names have been submitted by the governing body of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association.

(2) The Deputy Medical Superintendent shall ex officio be an alternate member to the Medical Superintendent and shall act as a member when the Medical Superintendent is unable for any reason to attend a meeting of the Board.

(3) The panel of persons referred to in paragraph (e) of subsection (1) shall be elected-

(a) in the case of the first election held in terms of this Act, in accordance with such procedure as the Minister may fix;

(b) in the case of any subsequent election, in accordance with such procedure as the Board may from time to time fix.

5 Conditions of office of members

(1) Subject to this Part-

(a) the Chairman shall hold office for three years; and

(b) a Ministry member shall hold office at the pleasure of the Minister; and

(c) a lay member, a University member, a clinical teaching staff member, an Association member or the consultant member shall hold office for two years:

(2) Subject to this Part, a member shall hold office on such conditions and be paid out of the funds of the Board such allowances, if any, as the Minister, with the approval of the Minister responsible for finance, may in his case fix.

6 Appointment of members where provisions of section 4 not followed

(1) If the Council of the University of Zimbabwe, the clinical teaching staff, the Associations referred to in paragraphs ( f ) and (h) of subsection (1) of section four or the honorary consultants fail, neglect or refuse to submit the names of or elect the panel of persons referred to in paragraphs (d), (e), ( f ), (g) or (h) of subsection (1) of section four, as the case may be, the Minister may in terms of the appropriate paragraph appoint any person, whether that person is a staff member of the Faculty of Medicine, a member of the clinical teaching staff, a medical practitioner, an honorary consultant or a nurse, as the case may be, or not, whom he thinks fit to be a member.

(2) Any member appointed in pursuance of subsection (1) shall hold office for such period as the Minister may fix.

7 Disqualification for appointment or election as member

No person shall be appointed as a member and no appointed member shall be qualified to hold office as a member who has-

(a) in terms of a law in force in any country-

(i) been adjudged or otherwise declared insolvent or bankrupt and has not been rehabilitated or discharged; or

(ii) made an assignment to, or arrangement or composition with, his creditors which has not been rescinded or set aside; or

(iii) adjudged or otherwise declared to be mentally disordered or defective; or

(b) within the period of five years immediately preceding the date of his proposed appointment, been convicted-

(i) within Zimbabwe of a criminal offence; or

(ii) outside Zimbabwe of an offence by whatever name called which, if committed within Zimbabwe, would have been a criminal offence;

and sentenced by a court to imprisonment without the option of a fine, whether or not such sentence has been suspended, and has not received a free pardon.

8 Vacation of office of members

(1) An appointed member shall vacate his office and his office shall become vacant- (a) one month after the date he gives notice in writing to the Minister of his intention to resign his office or after the expiration of such shorter period as he and the Minister may agree; or

(b) one month after the date he is sentenced by a court to imprisonment referred to in paragraph (b) of section seven after conviction of an offence referred to in that paragraph:

Provided that, if during the said period of one month an application for a free pardon is made or an appeal is led, the question whether the member is to vacate his office shall not be determined until the final disposal of such application or appeal, whereupon the member shall forthwith vacate his office and his office shall become vacant unless he is granted a free pardon, his conviction is set aside or a sentence other than imprisonment is substituted; or

(c) if he becomes disqualified in terms of paragraph (a) of section seven to hold office as a member; or

(d) if he is required in terms of section nine to vacate his office; or

(e) if he is absent without the permission of the Board from three consecutive meetings of the Board of which he has had notice; or

( f ) if he ceases to hold a qualification which was necessary in terms of subsection (1) of section four for his appointment.

(2) The Chairman shall vacate his office as Chairman and as a member and his office as such shall become vacant if he practises medicine for gain. 9 Minister may require member to vacate office or suspend him

(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the Board, require an appointed member to vacate his office if the Minister is satisfied that the member- (a) has been guilty of improper conduct as a member; or

(b) has failed to comply with the conditions of his office fixed by the

Minister in terms of subsection (2) of section five; or

(c) is mentally or physically incapable of efficiently performing his duties as a member; or

(d) who as a medical practitioner or dental practitioner has, as the result of disciplinary action in terms of the Health Professions Act [Chapter 27:19] been found guilty of any conduct, act or omission referred to in subsection (1) of section 113 of that Act, or has been prohibited from practice in terms of section 130.

[amended by Act 6/2000 with effect from the 2nd April, 2001.]

(2) The Minister may suspend from office-

(a) a member against whom criminal proceedings are instituted for an offence in respect of which a sentence of imprisonment without the option of a fine may be imposed; and

(b) a member who is a medical practitioner or dental practitioner and who is the subject of disciplinary action referred to in paragraph (d) of subsection (1);

and, whilst that member is so suspended, he shall not carry out any duties as a member.

10 Filling of vacancies on Board

(1) On the death of, or the vacation of office by, a member who is an appointed member, the vacancy shall be filled by an appointment made in terms of paragraph (a), (c), (d), (e), ( f ), (g) or (h) of subsection (1) of section four:

Provided that-

(i) if the remainder of the period for which the member who has died or whose office has been vacated would otherwise have held office is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to make an appointment and the Board may, if it thinks fit, co-opt a person who has the same qualifications referred to in section four as the member who has died or whose office has been vacated to fill the vacancy;

(ii) the reference in paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section four to a panel of four persons shall, for the purposes of this subsection, be read and construed as a reference to a panel of three persons.

(2) The person so appointed or co-opted, as the case may be, in terms of subsection (1) shall hold office for the remainder of the period for which the member who has died or vacated his office would, but for his death or the vacation of his office, have continued in office.

(3) If any appointed member is granted leave of absence by the Board, the Board may, if it thinks fit, co-opt a person who has the same qualifications referred to in section four as the member who has been granted leave to fill the vacancy during the absence of that member.

(4) Sections seven, eight and nine shall apply, mutatis mutandis, in respect of a member co-opted in terms of proviso (i) to subsection (1) or subsection (3).

11 Meetings and decisions of Board

(1) The Board shall hold its first meeting on such date and at such place as the Minister may specify and thereafter the Board shall meet for the dispatch of business and, subject to this section, adjourn, close and otherwise regulate its meetings and other proceedings as it thinks fit.

(2) A special meeting of the Board-

(a) may be convened by the Chairman at any time;

(b) shall be convened by the Chairman within twenty-one days of the receipt by him of a request in writing signed by not less than four members of the Board and specifying the purposes for which the meeting is to be convened.

(3) At any meeting of the Board six members, of whom-

(a) one shall be the ex officio member or his alternate; and

(b) two shall be lay members; and

(c) one shall be the Ministry member; and

(d) one shall be either a University member or a clinical teaching staff member; and

(e) one shall be either the Zimbabwe Medical Association or the Zimbabwe Nurses Association member; shall form a quorum.

(4) If at any meeting of the Board the Chairman is absent, the members present shall appoint one of the lay members to preside at that meeting.

(5) All acts, matters or things authorized or required to be done by the Board may be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present.

(6) At all meetings of the Board each member present shall have one vote on a question before the Board and, in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding shall have, in addition to a deliberative vote, a casting vote. 12 Committees of Board

(1) Subject to subsection (2) and sections thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, for the proper exercise of its functions and powers the Board-

(a) shall establish an executive committee, the function of which shall be to exercise the powers and duties of the Board between meetings:

Provided that-

(i) the Executive Committee shall not, save in so far as the Board otherwise directs, have power to set aside or vary any decision of the Board; (ii) any action taken by the Executive Committee shall be reported to the

Board at its meeting next after such action is taken; and

(b) shall establish a finance committee in which the Board may vest, and on which may be imposed, such of the powers and duties of the Board in relation to its financial affairs as the Board may specify; and

(c) shall establish a medical advisory committee on appointments in which the Board may vest such of the powers of the Board referred to in section thirty as the Board may specify; and

(d) may establish such other committees as it considers to be necessary or desirable in which the Board may vest, and on which may be imposed, such of the powers and duties of the Board as the Board may specify.

(2) The vesting or imposition of powers or duties of the Board in a committee shall not thereby divest the Board of those powers or duties.

(3) The Chairman or the chairman of a committee may at any time and at any place convene a meeting of that committee.

(4) Subject to sections thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, the procedure of a committee established in terms of subsection (1) shall be fixed by the Board.

13 Executive Committee

(1) The Executive Committee shall consist of-

(a) the Chairman, who shall be the chairman; and

(b) the ex officio member or his alternate; and

(c) two lay members; and

(d) the Ministry member; and

(e) one University member; and

( f ) the Zimbabwe Medical Association member; and (g) the Zimbabwe Nurses Association member.

(2) Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held not less than three times in each year.

(3) At any meeting of the Executive Committee five members of that committee shall form a quorum.

(4) If at a meeting of the Executive Committee the chairman of that committee is absent, one of the lay members shall preside at that meeting or, if no lay member is present, the members present shall appoint one of their number to preside at that meeting.

(5) All acts, matters or things authorized or required to be done by the Executive Committee shall be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of that committee at which a quorum is present.

(6) At all meetings of the Executive Committee each member of that committee present shall have one vote on a question before that committee and, in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have, in addition to a deliberative vote. a casting vote. 14 Finance Committee

(1) The Finance Committee shall consist of-

(a) the Chairman who shall be the chairman; and

(b) the ex officio member or his alternate; and

(c) two lay members; and (d) the Ministry member; and (e) one University member.

(2) Meetings of the Finance Committee shall be held not less than three times in each year.

(3) At any meeting of the Finance Committee three members of that committee shall form a quorum.

(4) If at a meeting of the Finance Committee the chairman of that committee is absent, one of the lay members shall preside at that meeting or, if no lay member is present, the members present shall appoint one of their number to preside at that meeting.

(5) All acts, matters or things authorized or required to be done by the Finance Committee shall be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of that committee at which a quorum is present.

(6) At all meetings of the Finance Committee each member of that committee present shall have one vote on a question before that committee and, in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have, in addition to a deliberative vote, a casting vote. 15 Medical Appointments Committee

(1) The Medical Advisory Committee on Appointments shall consist of-

(a) the ex officio member or his alternate who shall be the chairman; and

(b) the Ministry member; and

(c) one University member; and

(d) one clinical teaching staff member; and (e) the Zimbabwe Medical Association member; and ( f ) the Zimbabwe Nurses Association member.

(2) Meetings of the Medical Advisory Committee on Appointments shall be held as often as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of that committee. (3) At any meeting of the Medical Advisory Committee on Appointments the chairman and three members, of whom at least two shall be medical practitioners, shall form a quorum.

(4) All acts, matters or things authorized or required to be done by the Medical Advisory Committee on Appointments shall be decided by a majority vote at a meeting of that committee at which a quorum is present.

(5) At all meetings of the Medical Advisory Committee on Appointments each member of that committee present shall have one vote on a question before that committee and, in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have, in addition to a deliberative vote, a casting vote.

16 Restrictions relating to member with interest or candidate for appointment

(1) If a member or his spouse-

(a) tenders for, acquires or holds a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a contract with the Board; or

(b) holds a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a company or firm which results in his private interests coming or appearing to come into conflict with his duties as a member; the member shall forthwith disclose the facts to the Board and the Minister.

(2) A member referred to in subsection (1) shall absent himself during the consideration of or vote on any question before the Board or a committee which relates to a contract or interest referred to in that subsection.

(3) Where a member or his spouse is a candidate for an appointment in terms of section thirty, the member shall absent himself from any meeting while the appointment is being considered or voted on. 17 Validity of decisions and acts of Board

No decision or act of the Board or a committee or act done under the authority of the Board or a committee shall be invalid by reason only of the fact that-

(a) the Board or the committee, as the case may be, did not consist of the full number of members for which provision is made in this Part; or

(b) a disqualified person sat or acted as a member of the Board or the committee, as the case may be, at the time the decision was taken or the act was done or authorized.

18 Contracts and instruments of Board

An agreement, contract or instrument may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Board by any person or persons generally or specially authorized by the Board for that purpose.

PART III

FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD AND

TRANSFER OF ASSETS

19 Functions of Board

Subject to this Act and the directions of the Minister, the functions of the Board shall be to manage and control the Hospitals for the purpose of providing- (a) for the care and treatment of patients at the Hospitals; and

(b) facilities for the teaching and training of medical practitioners, medical students, nurses and other personnel; and

(c) facilities for medical research; and

(d) the equitable distribution of health resources irrespective of race or creed and in the interests of social justice.

20 Powers of Board

Subject to this Act and any directions of the Minister, the Board shall, for the better exercise of its functions, have power to do or cause to be done, either by itself or through its agents, all or any of the things specified in the Second Schedule, either absolutely or conditionally and either solely or jointly with others.

21 By-laws of Board

(1) Subject to subsection (3), the Board may make by-laws for the administration and management of the Hospitals.

(2) By-laws made in terms of subsection (1) may relate to-

(a) the safe-keeping of and responsibility for the belongings of patients and controlling the conduct of patients;

(b) the conditions under which patients may be visited and the conduct of visitors;

(c) the duties, responsibilities and conduct within the Hospitals of staff referred to in section thirty;

(d) the control of and access to the grounds and buildings of the Hospitals;

(e) the control of vehicular traffic and parking in the grounds of the Hospitals, including the fixing of fees for the parking of vehicles.

(3) By-laws made in terms of subsection (1) may prescribe penalties for contraventions thereof, but no such penalty shall exceed a fine of level four.

[substituted by Act 22 of 2001, with effect from the 20th May, 2002]

(4) By-laws made in terms of subsection (1) shall not have effect until they have been approved by the Minister and published in the Gazette.

[substituted by Act 22 of 2001, with effect from the 20th May, 2002]

22 Transfer of certain assets, rights, liabilities and obligations to Board and construction of future donations to Ministry, etc.

(1) The assets and rights of the State connected with the services provided by the Ministry responsible for health in the Hospitals, including any endowment, together with the liabilities and obligations attached thereto, which were subsisting immediately before the 1st July,1975 and are specified by the Minister, after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance, shall be transferred with effect from the 1st July,1975 to the Board:

Provided that no immovable property shall be transferred to the Board.

(2) All charges, agreements, contracts, instruments and working arrangements creating, giving rise to, relating to or connected with an asset, right, liability or obligation referred to in subsection (1) which were subsisting immediately before the 1st July,1975, including any contract entered into before the 1st July,1975 for the supply of equipment for the Hospitals, shall, subject to subsection (4), be of as full force and effect against or in favour of the Board and enforceable as fully and effectively as if, instead of the State or a representative of the State, the Board had been named therein and had been a party thereto.

(3) A proceeding or cause of action relating to or connected with an asset, right, liability or obligation referred to in subsection (1) or arising out of a charge, agreement, contract, instrument or working arrangement referred to in subsection (2) which was pending or existing immediately before the 1st July,1975 by or against the State may, subject to subsection (4), be continued or enforced by or against the Board as it might have been by or against the State if this Act had not come into operation.

(4) Subsections (2) and (3) shall not apply to a proceeding or cause of action pending or existing immediately before the 1st July,1975 between the State and a person employed by the State.

(5) Any money or other movable property which is donated or bequeathed on or after the 1st July,1975 to the Minister, the Secretary of the Ministry responsible for health or the Ministry responsible for health for the benefit of any of the Hospitals or the staff or patients thereof shall be deemed to have been donated or bequeathed, as the case may be, to the Board and any terms or conditions attached thereto shall be construed accordingly.

(6) In this section-

"endowment" means any money or other movable property which has been donated or bequeathed before the 1st July,1975 for the benefit of any of the Hospitals or the staff or patients thereof and, immediately before the 1st July,1975, is held by the Minister, the Secretary of the Ministry responsible for health or the Ministry responsible for health.

PART IV

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS OF BOARD

23 Conduct of financial affairs of Board

In the exercise of its functions it shall be the object of the Board to ensure that all its income, taking one year with another, is not less than sufficient to enable the Board to meet its expenses. 24 Funds of Board

(1) The funds of the Board shall consist of-

(a) the fees and charges fixed in terms of paragraph 9 of the Second Schedule; and

(b) such grants, donations, bequests and subscriptions as may be payable to the Board; and

(c) such moneys as may be payable to the Board from moneys appropriated for the purpose by Act of Parliament; and

(d) such other moneys or assets as may vest in or accrue to the Board, whether in the course of its operations or otherwise. (2) Moneys referred to in paragraph (b) to subsection (1)-

(a) may, subject to paragraph (b) and to any terms and conditions under which such moneys are payable to the Board, be used for such purposes as the Board thinks fit; and

(b) shall not be used for any purposes which will involve any payments from moneys referred to in paragraph (a), (c) or (d) of subsection (1) unless the approval of the Minister has been obtained.

(3) The funds of the Board shall not be regarded as public moneys for the purposes of the Audit and Exchequer Act [Chapter 22:03] other than for the purposes of Part III of that Act.

25 Accounts and reserves of Board

(1) The Board shall keep proper accounts and other records relating to all its operations and property, including such particular accounts as the Minister may direct.

(2) The Board shall prepare and submit to the Minister an audited statement of accounts in respect of each financial year or such other period as the Minister may direct.

(3) Every audited statement of accounts prepared in terms of subsection (2) shall be laid by the Minister before Parliament on one of the ten days on which the Parliament sits next after he has received it.

(4) The Board may establish a general reserve and may credit thereto such sums as may be approved by the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance.

26 Audit of accounts of Board

(1) The accounts of the Board kept in terms of subsection (1) of section twenty-five shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General not less than once in each financial year.

(2) The Comptroller and Auditor-General shall make a report to the Board on the statement of accounts prepared in terms of subsection (2) of section twenty-five and such report shall state whether or not, in his opinion, the statement of accounts gives a true and fair view of the state of the financial affairs of the Board.

(3) In addition to the report referred to in subsection (2), the Minister may require the Board to obtain from the Comptroller and Auditor-General such other reports, statements or explanations in connexion with the operations and property of the Board as the Minister may consider expedient.

(4) If, in the opinion of the Comptroller and Auditor-General-

(a) he has not obtained the information and explanations he requires; or (b) the accounts and records referred to in subsection (1) of section twenty-five have not been properly kept; or

(c) the Board has not complied with the provisions of this Part; he shall include in the report made in terms of subsection (2) or (3), as the case may be, statements to that effect.

PART IV

STAFF OF HOSPITALS

27 This Part not to derogate from laws relating to Public Service

Nothing in this Act shall derogate from the laws relating to the Public Service which shall continue to apply in relation to members of staff referred to in paragraph (a) of section thirty as though their service with the Board were service in the Public Service.

28 Appointment, functions and powers of Medical Superintendent and Deputy

Medical Superintendent

(1) The Minister shall appoint to the Hospitals from officers of the Ministry responsible for health persons to be known as-

(a) the Medical Superintendent of the Hospitals; and

(b) the Deputy Medical Superintendent of the Hospitals.

(2) The Medical Superintendent shall, subject to the directions of the Board, be responsible for the day to day running of the Hospitals, including the control of the staff referred to in section thirty.

(3) The Medical Superintendent shall have such powers as may be necessary for or incidental to the performance of his functions. (4) The Deputy Medical Superintendent shall-

(a) assist the Medical Superintendent in the performance of his functions; and

(b) act for the Medical Superintendent in his absence.

29 Persons to be provided by Minister

(1) The Minister shall provide for appointment to the Hospitals from the establishment of the Ministry responsible for health such persons as he may consider reasonably necessary to enable the Board to exercise its functions and powers.

(2) The Minister may remove from the service of the Board a person appointed to any of the Hospitals in terms of paragraph (a) of section thirty.

30 Staff may be appointed by Board

The Board may appoint to any of the Hospitals-

(a) any person provided by the Minister in terms of section twenty-nine and the person so appointed shall be in the service of the Board until he dies, resigns, retires or is discharged from the Public Service or is removed in terms of subsection

(2) of section twenty-nine;

(b) on such terms and conditions as the Minister may approve, medical practitioners and dental surgeons as honorary consultants;

(c) with the approval of the Council of the University of Zimbabwe, on such terms and conditions, including the payment of such allowances, as the Minister may approve, members of the staff of the University of Zimbabwe as clinical teaching staff;

(d) on such terms and conditions, including the payment of remuneration and allowances, as the Minister may approve, persons as resident medical or dental staff;

(e) such other staff on such terms and conditions as the Minister may approve.

31 Powers of Board in respect of persons provided by Minister

The Board may, in respect of a person appointed to any of the Hospitals in terms of paragraph (a) of section thirty, request the Minister-

(a) to remove that person in terms of subsection (2) of section twentynine; or

(b) to cause an investigation to be made into an allegation of misconduct against that person in terms of the laws relating to the Public Service;

and the Minister shall cause an inquiry to be conducted and thereafter, if he considers such action justified, remove the person or cause a charge of misconduct to be preferred against him, as the case may be.

PART VI

GENERAL

32 Limitation of liability of Board

Without prejudice to any defence or limitation which might be available in terms of any law, no liability shall attach to any member or member of a committee of the Board in respect of any loss or damage sustained by any person as a result of the exercise or performance or purported exercise or performance of or the omission to exercise or perform any power or duty conferred or imposed on the Board or the committee by or in terms of this Act unless the act or omission to act in question was in bad faith or negligent.

33 Actions in delict to be taken against State

Any delictual liability of the Board shall be deemed to be that of the State and any proceedings in connection therewith shall be taken against the Minister.

34 Proceedings on failure of Board to comply with Act

(1) If at any time the Minister is satisfied that the Board has failed to comply with this Act or the directions of the Minister, he may, by notice in writing, require the Board to make good the default within a specified time.

(2) If the Board fails to comply with a notice issued in terms of subsection (1), the Minister may apply to the High Court for an order compelling the Board to remedy the default and the High Court may make such order on the application as it thinks fit.

35 Board not bound by certain laws

The Board shall not be bound by any law which does not bind the State:

Provided that any scheme under the National Social Security Authority Act [Chapter 17:04] which relates to workers' compensation shall bind the Board in respect of employees of the Board, other than those referred to in paragraph (a) of section thirty.

36 Use of patented inventions by Board

The Board shall be deemed to have been authorized in writing in terms of subsection (1) of section 34 of the Patents Act [Chapter 26:03] to make, use or exercise any invention disclosed in any specification lodged at the Patent Office in connection with any services provided at the Hospitals or any one or more of them.

37 Amendment of First Schedule and transitional provisions

(1) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, amend, add to or replace the First Schedule.

(2) Notwithstanding the removal of any hospital from the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the Minister may direct the Board-

(a) to manage and control that hospital to such extent and for such period as he may specify; and

(b) with the approval of the Minister responsible for finance to administer the finances and accounts relating to that hospital in such manner and for such period as he may specify;

and the Board shall comply with the Minister's directions and have the authority and power to act in accordance with those directions.

(3) Subsection (2) shall extend and apply, mutatis mutandis, to the removal of Harare

Central Hospital from the First Schedule pursuant to the provisions of the Salisbury Hospitals Amendment Act, 1981, which removal shall be deemed to have taken effect on the 30th June, 1981.

38 Regulations

(1) The Minister may make regulations prescribing any thing which, in his opinion, is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

(2) Regulations made in terms of subsection (1)-

(a) may provide for any matter in respect of which the Board may, in terms of section twenty-one, make by-laws; and

(b) if inconsistent with any by-laws made in terms of section twenty-one, shall repeal and substitute those by-laws to the extent that they are so inconsistent. (3) Regulations made in terms of subsection (1) may prescribe penalties for contraventions thereof, but no such penalty shall exceed a fine of level four.

[substituted by Act 22 of 2001, with effect from the 20th May, 2002]

FIRST SCHEDULE (Section 2) PARIRENYATWA GROUP OF HOSPITALS

1. Parirenyatwa Hospital.

2. Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Home.

3. Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital.

SECOND SCHEDULE (Section 20) POWERS OF BOARD

1. To acquire movable property by purchase, loan, hire or exchange.

2. To maintain, alter or improve the property of the Board.

3. To sell, exchange, lease, pledge, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with any property of the Board for such consideration as the Board may determine.

4. To borrow money in such amounts, on such terms and conditions and for such purposes as may be approved by the Minister and the Minister of Finance.

5. To insure against any loss, risk or liability which the Board may incur or any damage which the Board may suffer.

6. To enter into agreements and to modify or rescind such agreements:

Provided that the Board shall not enter into agreements of suretyship or guarantee without the approval of the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance.

7. To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue, for the purpose of the business of the Hospitals, promissory notes, bills of exchange, securities and other negotiable and transferable instruments.

8. To invest moneys not immediately required.

9. (1) To fix the terms and conditions, including fees, subject to which patients are admitted to, accommodated and treated in and discharged from the hospitals and to fix different terms and conditions for different classes of patients:

Provided that in fixing the fees in terms of this subparagraph the Board shall do so subject to the directions of the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance.

(2) Subject to the directions of the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance, to provide-

(a) that no fees shall be paid by a specified patient or class of patients; and

(b) for the remission of fees paid by a specified patient or class of patients.

10. To accept a grant, donation or bequest of movable property, including money, made to the Board or for the Hospitals:

Provided that, if a grant, donation or bequest referred to in this paragraph-

(a) is made subject to any conditions; or

(b) would involve additional or recurrent expenditures on the part of the

Board;

the Board shall not accept the grant, donation or bequest without the consent of the Minister.

11. Generally, to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the exercise of the functions or the performance of the duties of the Board or which are incidental to the powers specified in this Schedule or which are calculated, directly or indirectly, to enhance the value of, or to develop, the services provided at the Hospitals.