TONGA

HEALTH PRACTITIONERS REVIEW ACT 2001

I assent,

TAUFA'AHAU TUPOU IV,
31st August, 2001.

ARRANGEMENT OF PARTS AND SECTIONS

PART I - PRELIMINARY

1. Short Title
2. Interpretation

PART II - THE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS REVIEW COUNCIL

3. Establishment
4. Functions
5. Composition
6. Tenure
7. Procedures
8. Power to co-opt
9. Powers on review
10. Nature of review
11. Orders

PART III - APPEALS

12. Appeal
13. Further Appeal

PART IV - MISCELLANEOUS

14. Regulations
15. Repeal and saving

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No. 7 of 2001.

AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH HEALTH PRACTITIONERS REVIEW COUNCIL, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REVIEW OF DECISIONS OF BOARDS ESTABLISHED TO REGISTER HEALTH PRACTITIONERS AND PROVIDE FOR THE REVIEW OF DECISIONS OF THE BOARDS REGARDING COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS, AND FOR ANCILLARY PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED by the King and Legislative Assembly of Tonga in the Legislature of the Kingdom as follows:

PART I - PRELIMINARY

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the Health Practitioners Review Act 2001, and shall come into force on a date to be proclaimed by His Majesty in Council.

Interpretation

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

"assistant pharmacist" means a person registered as an assistant pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act 2001;

"Board" means the Medical and Dental Practice Board, the Nurses Board, or the Pharmacy Board and any other Board subsequently created to register health practitioners, to receive complaints, and to hear matters of professional conduct;

"conduct" means any act or omission;

"Council" means the Health Practitioners Review Council established under Part II of this Act;

"dental therapist" means a person registered as a dental therapist under the Medical and Dental Practice Act 2001;

"dentist" means a person registered as a dentist under the Medical and Dental Practice Act 2001;

"health officer" means a person registered as a health officer under the Medical and Dental Practice Act 2001;

"health practitioner" means a registered medical practitioner, health officer, dentist, dental therapist, nurse, midwife, pharmacist, assistant pharmacist and such other practitioner as may be required by law to register before practice;

"medical practitioner" means a person registered as a medical practitioner under the Medical and Dental Practice Act 2001;

"midwife" means a nurse registered as a midwife under the Nurses Act 2001;

"Minister" means the Minister of Health;

"nurse" means a person registered as a nurse under the Nurses Act 2001;

"pharmacist" means a person registered as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act 2001;

"professional misconduct" in relation to a medical practitioner, health officer, dentist or dental therapist is as defined in the Medical and Dental Practice Act 2001, in relation to a nurse or midwife is a defined The Nurses Act 2001 and in relation to a pharmacist or assistant pharmacist is as defined in the Pharmacy Act 2001.

PART II -THE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS REVIEW COUNCIL

Health practitioners review council

3. There shall be a Health Practitioners Review Council which shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and common seal which may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

Functions of the Council

4. The Council shall review upon application-

(a) orders made by the Medical and Dental Practice Board;

(b) orders made by the Nurses Board;

(c) orders made by the Pharmacy Board; and

(d) orders made by such other Boards as may be created by statute with the responsibility to register health practitioners and to receive complaints and decide matters of professional conduct.

Composition of the Council

5. The Council shall consist of the following members-

(a) the Director of Health, who shall be Chairman;

(b) the Medical Superintendent;

(c) the Chief Dental Officer;

(d) the Principal Pharmacist;

(e) the Chief Nursing Officer;

(f) Solicitor General;

(g) a lay member appointed by the Minister;

(h) an employee of the Ministry of Health appointed by the Minister, as the secretary to the Council.

Tenure

6. (1) The members appointed under section 5(g) and (h) shall hold office for a period of 2 years and shall be eligible for reappointment.

(2) Any member appointed by the Minister may resign by giving notice of such resignation to the Minister who, if the resignation is accepted, shall appoint another person for the remaining period off office.

Seal and procedure

7. (1) The seal of the Council shall be kept in the custody of the secretary and shall be affixed by the secretary or any other officer duly authorized by the Council on documents authorized to be sealed by the Council.

(2) The Council shall determine the procedures and rules governing its meetings.

(3) The Council shall meet as required and shall prepare annually a report of its activities during the preceding 12 months and this report shall be made to the Minister.

(4) The Council shall be financially supported by the Ministry of Health;

(5) An act or omission done in good faith by the Minister, chairman, secretary, or Council members shall not subject that person to any liability.

Minister's power to co-opt

8. When the Council is required to review the decision of a particular Board, the Minister shall co-opt to the Council sufficient members of the profession of standing and experience to which the applicant for review belongs to ensure that at least three members of the profession of the applicant for review participate in the review relating to that person.

Powers upon conducting review

9. Upon conducting a review at the request of an aggrieved person, the Council shall have the same powers and duties as held by the relevant Board in conducting an inquiry.

Nature of review

10. Any review will be in the nature of a new hearing at which new evidence may be given.

Orders

11. The Council may make such orders as it thinks fit and the relevant Board shall give effect to the Council's orders subject to the determination of any appeal under Part III.

PART III-APPEALS

Appeal to Minister

12. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order made under section 11 may, not later than one month after being served with the order, appeal to the Minister.

(2) The Minister on the hearing of the appeal may affirm, reverse or amend the decision of the Council, or may remit the matter, with the opinion of the Minister, to the Council for reconsideration.

Appeal to Supreme Court

13. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order made under section 12 may, not later than one month after being served with the order, appeal to the Supreme Court.

(2) The Supreme Court on the hearing of the appeal may affirm, reverse or amend the decision of the Minister.

PART IV - MISCELLANEOUS

Regulations

14. The Minister may, with the approval of Cabinet make regulations for the effective carrying out of the provisions of this Act.

Repeal and saving

15. Except to the extent provided in any Act, the Health Practitioners Registration Act 1991 is repealed and any appeal made under that Act shall be deemed to have been made under this Act.

Passed by the Legislative Assembly this 11th day of July, 2001.

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TONGA

'Oku ou loto ki ai,

TAUFA'AHAU TUPOU IV,
31 'o 'Aokosi, 2001.

LAO KI HE VAKAPI 'O E KAU NGAUE KI HE MO'UI 2001

FAKAHOKOHOKO

KONGA I - TALATEU

1. Hingoa Nounou
2. 'Uhinga'i Lea

KONGA II - KOSILIO VAKAI 'O E KAU NGAUE KI HE MO'UI

3. Kosilio Vakai 'o e Kau Ngaue ki he Mo'ui
4. Ngaahi Fatongia 'o e Kosilio
5. Fa'unga 'o e Kosilio
6. Memipa
7. Ngaahi Founga
8. Mafai 'o e Minisita
9. Mafai Vakai'i
10. Natula 'o e Vakai'i
11. Ngaahi Tu'utu'uni

KONGA III - TANGI

12. Tangi ki he Minisita
13. Tangi ki he Fakamaau'anga

KONGA IV - ME'A KEHEKEHE

14. Mafai Fa'u Tu'utu'uni
15. Fakapekia

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Fika 7 'o e 2001.

KO E LAO
KE FOKOTU'U HA KOSILIO VAKAI 'O E KAU NGAUE KI HE MO'UI, KE TU'UTU'UNI HONO VAKAPI 'O E NGAAHI TU'UTU'UNI 'A E NGAAHI POATE KUO FOKOTU'U KE LESISITA 'A E KAU NGAUE MO'UI MO TU'UTU'UNI HONO VAKAPI 'O E NGAAHI TU'UTU'UNI 'A E NGAAHI POATE KAU KI HE NGAAHI LAUNGA MO E NGAAHI FAKATONUTONU, MO E NGAAHI TAUMU'A FELAVE'I MO IA.

'OKU TU'UTU'UNI 'e he Tu'i mo e Fale Alea 'o Tonga 'i he Fakataha Alea 'o e Pule'anga 'o pehe:-

KONGA I-TALATEU

Hingoa nounou kamata'anga

1. 'E ui 'a e Lao ni ko e Lao ki he Vakai'i 'o e Kau Ngaue ki he Mo'ui 2001, pea kuo pau ke kamata ngaue'aki 'i ha 'aho 'e fakaha 'e he 'Ene mo e
'Afro 'i he Fakataha Tokoni.

'Uhinga'i Lea

2. 'I he Lao ni, tukukehe ka ha atu ha toe 'uhinga kehe 'i hono tu'unga-

"tokoni hu'ivai" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha kuo lesisita ko ha tokoni hu'i vai 'i he Lao ki he Hu'i Vai 2001;

"Poate" 'oku 'uhinga ki he Poate Ngaue Fakafaito'o mo e Nifo, Poate 'a e Kau Neesi, pe ko e Poate Hu'i Vai mo ha toe Poate kehe 'e fa'u 'amui ki hono lesisita 'o e kau Ngaue ki he mo'ui, ke tali 'a e ngaahi launga, pe ke fakamaau'i 'a e ngaahi me'a 'oku anga fakapalofesinale;

"anga Jai" 'oku 'uhinga ki hano fakahoko pe ta'efakahoko;

"Kosilio" 'oku 'uhinga ki he Kosilio Vakai 'o e Kau Ngaue ki he Mo'ui 'a is kuo fokotu'u 'i he Konga H 'o e Lao ni;

"tokoni faito 'o nifo" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha kuo lesisita ko ha tokoni faito'o nifo 'i he Lao ki he Ngaue Fakafaito'o mo e Nifo 2001;

"toketa nifo" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha kuo lesisita ko ha toketa nifo 'i he Lao ki he Ngaue Fakafaito'o mo e Nifo 2001;

"'ofisa mo 'ui" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha kuo lesisita ko ha 'ofisa mo'ui 'i he Lao ki he Ngaue Fakafaito'o mo e Nifo 2001;

"taha ngaue ki he mo'ui" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha toketa, 'ofisa mo'ui, toketa nifo, tokoni faito'o nifo, neesi, ma'uli, taha hu'i vai, tokoni hu'i vai kuo lesisita mo ha taha ngaue kehe ki he mo'ui 'e ngofua ke tu'utu'uni 'e he lao ke lesisita kimu'a pea ne toki ngaue;

"toketa" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha kuo lesisita ko ha toketa faito'o 'i he Lao ki he Ngaue Fakafaito'o mo e Nifo 2001;

"ma'uli" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha neesi kuo lesisita ko ha ma'uli 'i he Lao ki he Kau Neesi 2001;

"Minisita" 'oku 'uhinga ki he Minisita 'o e Mo'ui;

"neesi" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha kuo lesisita ko ha neesi 'i he Lao ki he Kau Neesi 2001;

"taha hu'i vai" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha taha kuo lesisita ko ha taha hu'i vai 'i he Lao ki he Hu'i Vai 2001;

"anga kovi fakapalofesinale" 'i he'ene felave'i mo ha toketa faito'o, 'ofisa mo'ui, toketa nifo pe tokoni faito'o nifo 'o hange ko is 'oku fakamatala'i 'i he Lao ki he Ngaue Fakafaito'o mo e Nifo 2001, 'o felave'i mo ha neesi pe ma'uli 'o hange ko is 'oku fakamatala'i 'i he Lao ki he Kau Neesi 2001 pea felave'i mo ha taha hu'i vai pe ha tokoni hu'i vai 'o hange ko is 'oku fakamatala'i 'i he Lao ki he Hu'i Vai 2001.

KONGA II - KO E KOSILIO SIVI 'O E KAU NGAUE KI HE MO'UI

Kosilio vakai 'o e kau ngaue ki he mo'ui

3. Kuo pau ke 'i ai ha Kosilio Vakai 'o e Kau Ngaue ki he Mo'ui 'a is kuo pau ko ha sino fakakautaha 'e mo'ui ma'u ai pe 'a is 'e ngofua ke ne fai faka'ilo pea ke faka'iloa 'aki hono hingoa fakakautaha.

Ngaahi fatongia 'o e Kosilio

4. Kuo pau ke vakai'i 'e he Kosilio 'i ha kole 'a e-

(a) ngaahi tu'utu'uni na'e fakahoko 'e he Poate Ngaue Fakafaito'o mo e Nifo;

(b) ngaahi tu'utu'uni na'e fakahoko 'e he Poate 'a e Kau Neesi;

(c) ngaahi tu'utu'uni na'e fakahoko 'e he Poate Hu'i Vai; mo ha

(d) ngaahi tu'utu'uni na'e fakahoko 'e ha ngaahi Poate kehe 'e ngofua ke fokotu'u 'i ha lao 'a is ko honau fatongia ke lesisita ha kau ngaue ki he mo'ui pea ke nau tali ha ngaahi launga mo tu'utu'uni ki ha ngaahi me'a 'oku anga fakapalofesinale.

Fa'unga 'o e Kosilio

5. Kuo pau ke kau ki he Kosilio 'a e kau memipa ko 'eni-

(a) ko e Talekita Mo'ui, 'a is kuo pau ke Sea;

(b) Ko e Toketa Pule 'o e Falemahaki Vaiola;

(c) Ko e 'Ofisa Toketa Nifo Pule;

(d) ko e Pule Hu'i Vai;

(e) Ko e 'Ofisa Neesi Pule;

(f) ko e Fakahinohino Lao Seniale;

(g) ko ha memipa mei he kakai 'e fokotu'u 'e he Minisita; mo

(h) ha taha ngaue 'i he Potungaue Mo'ui 'e fokotu'u 'e he Minisita, ke sekelitali ma'a e Kosilio.

Taimi Memipa

6. (1) Ko e kau memipa kuo fokotu'u 'i he kupu 5(g) mo e 5(h) kuo pau ke nau memipa 'i he vaha'a taimi ko e ta'u 'e 2 pea kuo pau 'e
lava ke toe fokotu'u pe kinautolu.

(2) 'E ngofua ke fakafisi ha memipa kuo fokotu'u 'e he Minisita 'aki 'ene 'oatu ha fanongonongo 'o 'ene fakafisi ki he Minisita 'a ia, kapau 'e tali 'a e fakafisi, kuo pau ke ne fokotu'u ha taha kehe ki he toenga 'o e vaha'a taimi 'o e lakanga.

Sila mo e founga ngaue

7. (1) Kuo pau ke tauhi 'a e sila 'o e Kosilio 'e he sekelitali pea kuo pau ke 'ai is 'e he sekelitali pe ha 'ofisa kehe kuo fakamafai'i 'e he Kosilio ki ha ngaahi tohi ngaue kuo fakamafai'i 'e he Kosilio ke
'ai ki ai 'a e sila.

(2) Kuo pau ke tu'utu'uni 'e he Kosilio fekau'aki mo 'ene ngaahi founga ngaue mo e ngaahi tu'utu'uni ke pule'i 'aki 'ene ngaahi fakataha.

(3) Kuo pau ke fakataha 'a e Kosilio 'i hano fiema'u pea kuo pau ke ne teuteu'i fakaaa'u ha lipooti 'o 'ene ngaahi ngaue lolotonga 'a e mahina 'e 12 kimu'a pea kuo pau ke 'ave 'a e lipooti ni ki he Minisita.

(4) Kuo pau ke tokoni'i fakapa'anga 'a e Kosilio 'e he Potungaue Mo'ui.

(5) Ko e fakahoko pe 'ikai fakahoko ha ngaue 'e he Minisita, sea, sekelitali, pe kau memipa 'o e Kosilio 'i he loto ma'a kuo pau 'e 'ikai ke mo'ua ai 'a e taha ko ia.

Mafai 'o e Minisita ke fakakau mai

8. Kapau 'e fiema'u 'a e Kosilio ke ne vakai'i 'i ha tu'utu'uni 'a ha fa'ahinga Poate, kuo pau ki he Minisita ke ne fakakau mai ki he Kosilio ha kau memipa fe'unga 'oku nau 'i he tu'unga fakapalofesinale mo taukei tatau mo e toko taha kole ke vakai'i ke fakapapau'i 'oku kau mai ha kau memipa 'e toko tolu pe lahi hake 'oku ngaue tatau mo e taha kole vakai'i 'o felave'i mo hono vakai'i 'o e taha ko ia.

Ngaahi Mafaii ki hono fakahoko 'o e vakai'i

9. 'I hano fakahoko ha vakai 'i ha kole 'e ha taha mamahi, kuo pau ke ma'u 'e he Kosilio 'a e ngaahi mafai mo e ngaahi fatongia tatau mo is 'oku ma'u 'e he Poate 'oku kau ki ai 'i he'ene fakahoko ha faka'eke'eke.

Natula 'o e Vakai'i

10. 'E natula tatau 'a e vakai'i mo hano fakamaau'i fo'ou 'a is 'e ngofua ke fakahu ai ha fakamo'oni fo'ou.

Ngaahi Tu'utu'uni

11. Kuo pau ke fai 'e he Kosilio ha ngaahi tu'utu'uni 'oku ne pehe 'oku taau pea kuo pau ki ha Poate 'oku kau ki ai ke ne fakahoko 'a e ngaahi tu'utu'uni 'a e Kosilio 'o fakatatau ki hano aofangatuku 'o ha tangi 'i he Konga III.

KONGA III - NGAAHI TANGI

Tangi ki he Minisita

12. (1) 'E ngofua ki ha taha 'oku mamahi 'i ha tu'utu'uni na'e fai 'i he kupu 11, 'o 'oua 'e toe tomui ange 'i he mahina 'e taha hili hono tufa ki ai 'a e tu'utu'uni, ke ne tangi ki he Minisita.

(2) 'E ngofua ki he Minisita 'i ha'ane fakamaau'i 'a e tangi ke ne fakapapau'i, liliu pe fakatonutonu 'a e tu'utu'uni 'a e Kosilio, pe 'e ngofua ke ne fakafoki 'a e me'a, mo e fakakaukau 'a e Minisita, ki he Kosilio ke ne to e fakakaukau'i.

Tangi ki he Fakamaau'anga Lahi

13. (1) 'E ngofua ki ha taha 'oku ne mamahi 'i ha tu'utu'uni na'e fai 'i he kupu 12, 'o 'oua 'e toe tomui ange 'i he mahina 'e taha hili hono tufa ki ai 'a e tu'utu'uni, ke ne tangi ki he Fakamaau'anga Lahi.

(2) 'E ngofua ki he Fakamaau'anga Lahi 'i ha'ane fakamaau'i 'a e tangi ke ne fakapapau'i, liliu pe fakatonutonu 'a e tu'utu'uni 'a e Minisita.

KONGA IV - ME'A KEHEKEHE

Mafai Fa'u Tu'utu'uni

14. 'E ngofua ki he Minisita, 'i he fakangofua 'e he Kapineti ke ne fa'u ha ngaahi tu'utu'uni ki hono fakahoko lelei 'a e ngaahi tu'utu'uni 'a e Lao ni.

Fakapekia mo fakahaofi

15. Tukukehe ha me'a 'oku tu'utu'uni 'i ha Lao kehe, 'oku fakapekia 'a e Lao ki he Lesisita 'o e Kau Ngaue ki he Mo'ui 1991 pea ka 'i ai ha tangi 'e fai 'i he Lao ko is kuo pau ke lau na'e fai is 'i he Lao ni.

Na'e paasi 'e he Fale Alea 'i he 'aho ni 11 'o Siulai, 2001.

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