SAMA - Committees

SAMA National Council

The National Council is the elected representative body of the SAMA membership, and convenes once a year. It is considered the highest decision-making authority of SAMA. The elected membership of the Council comprises of councillors elected by, amongst others, the respective SAMA branches, the SAMA interest groups (for example JUDASA, SEHDASA, ADASA and SARA), general practitioner groups and various speciality groups.

Office-bearers of the Council include the President, a President Elect, a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson. The Council ensures that the objects of the Association are fulfilled via the activities of the various structures of SAMA and regulate the functions of the Association.

General - SAMA committees and their role

The SAMA Board of Directors acts on behalf of the SAMA National Council and is assisted by several standing committees (also called operating committees) on a continual basis. These consist of Membership Representative Standing Committees and Professional Affairs Standing Committees. The bulk of the SAMA’s work is done through its standing committees.

These committees are responsible for making sure that the organisation endeavours to fulfil its aims and objectives and have overall responsibility for the management of an organisation's affairs.

Overall, being on a SAMA committee involves:

Having a shared sense of purpose (following aims and objectives)
Providing direction and leadership
Taking collective responsibility
Dealing with compliance issues
Being accountable to stakeholders (e.g. members, funders, service users, the wider community)

SAMA Professional Committees

At the start of each Councils three-year term of office, seven standing committees are elected and mandated to deal with specific tasks. Professional Affairs Standing Committees, all consisting of six members each, with their own terms of reference regarding their specific responsibility and expertise areas.The committees meet regularly and report to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis and to their peers annually at the National Council meeting.

Member Committees

SAMA has three Membership Representative Committees – the Committee for Public Sector Doctors(CPSD) representing the interests of all SAMA members employed in the public sector, the General Practitioners in Private Practice Committee (GPPPC) representing the interests of all SAMA General Practitioners, and the Specialists in Private Practice Committee (SPPC)representing the interests of all the specialists groupings in private practice amongst the SAMA membership.

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