Document

This Law, consisting of 53 articles divided into eight Chapters, approves the Basic Law on Health, which underlines the constitutional dignity of the right to health protection enshrined in the Constitution of São Tomé and Príncipe Health protection is a right of individuals and the community that is effective through the joint responsibility of citizens, society and the State, in freedom to demand and provide care, by regulating the general principles and specific guidelines. The multisectoral nature of health interventions will have particular attention to social determinants of health, such as poverty, work, water supply, basic sanitation, housing, education and nutrition of populations. A fundamental objective is to ensure that citizens have equal access to health care, irrespective of their economic condition, gender and wherever they live, as well as ensuring equity in the distribution of resources and the use of services. The Law is divided as follows: General provisions (Chap. I); Institutional framework (Chap. II); Entities Providing Health Care in General (Chap. III); National Health Service (Chap. IV); Financial resources for health (Chap. V); Public Health Sector (Chap. VI); Private Health Initiatives (Chap. VII); Final and Transitional Provisions (Chap. VIII).