Issued by: SA Communication Service
DR ZUMA APPOINTS CHAIR, VICE CHAIR OF MEDICINE CONTROL COUNCIL (MCC) AND REGISTRAR OF MEDICINE
Pretoria - Health Minister, Dr Nkosazana Zuma, has appointed Dr Helen Rees as the new chairperson of the Medicines Control Council, with effect from April 23, 1998.
Dr Rees replaces Professor Peter Folb, who has chaired the MCC for over 18 years. His term of office expired in August 1997, but has periodically been renewed on an ad hoc basis until the appointment of the new chairperson.
Dr Rees is the Director of Reproductive Health Research Unit, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, current president of Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa and a consultant with World Heath Organisation Reproductive Health and a host of other international organisations.
Dr Zuma has also appointed Prof Peter Eagles as vice-chairman of the MCC while Ms Precious Matsoso has been appointed Registrar of Medicine. The former is a professor of Pharmacy at the University of Western Cape, while the latter was the Director of Medical Schemes, and Pharmaceutical Service in the Department of Health.
Professor Peter Folb has pledged to continue working with MCC until the new proposed structure is in place later this year.
Dr Zuma has expressed appreciation to the outgoing chairperson and expressed confidence in the work of the MCC.