The Flying Doctor Service(Amendment)Act,2026

An Act to amend the Flying Doctor Service Act. [12th June, 2026
ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia. 1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Flying Doctor Service
(Amendment) Act, 2026, and shall be read as one with the Flying
Doctor Service Act, in this Act referred to as the principal Act. (2) This Act shall come into operation on the expiry of the term
of office, or removal by the Minister, of the members of the Board
holding office prior to the enactment of this Act, after which the
Minister shall appoint the members of the Board in accordance
with this Act. 2. Section 2 of the principal Act is amended by the insertion of
the following new definitions in the appropriate places in alphabetical
order:
“Emoluments Commission” means the Emoluments
Commission established under the Constitution; and
“legally disqualified” means the absence of legal capacity as
provided in section 4 of the Mental Health Act;
Flying Doctor Service (Amendment) [No. 52 of 2026 697
Enactment
Short title
and
commence-
ment
Amendment
of section 2
Cap. 1
Cap. 298
Cap. 305
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No.

(Amendment) [No. 52 of 2026 697
Enactment
Short title
and
commence-
ment
Amendment
of section 2
Cap. 1
Cap. 298
Cap. 305
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT
No.

52 of 2026
Date of Assent: 4th June, 2026
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K12.00 each.

Date of Assent: 4th June, 2026
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer,
P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K12.00 each.

3. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 5 and
substitution therefor of the following:
5. (1) The Board shall consist of the following
part-time members appointed by the Minister:
(a) two representatives of the ministry
responsible for health;
(b) a representative of the ministry
responsible for community development
and social services;
(c) a representative of the Attorney-General;
(d) a representative of the Zambia Air Force;
(e) two representatives from the private
sector with relevant knowledge and
experience in medical or aviation
services;
(f) a representative from the private sector
with relevant knowledge and experience
in business; and
(g) a representative from the private sector
with relevant knowledge and experience
in matters relating to this Act. (2) The ministries and institutions referred
to under subsection (1) shall nominate their
representatives for appointment by the Minister. (3) The Minister shall appoint the Chairperson
from among the members of the Board. (4) The members of the Board shall elect the
Vice-Chairperson from among themselves.

hall appoint the Chairperson
from among the members of the Board. (4) The members of the Board shall elect the
Vice-Chairperson from among themselves.

(5) A person shall not be appointed as a
member of the Board if that person —
(a) is not a citizen;
(b) is an undischarged bankrupt;
(c) is legally disqualified from performing the
functions of a member;
(d) has been convicted of an offence under
this Act or any other written law and
sentenced to imprisonment for a term
exceeding six months without an option
of a fine; or
(e) is an employee of the service. Repeal and
replacement
of section 5
Composition
of Board
698 [No. 52 of 2026 Flying Doctor Service (Amendment)

; or
(e) is an employee of the service. Repeal and
replacement
of section 5
Composition
of Board
698 [No. 52 of 2026 Flying Doctor Service (Amendment)

4. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 5A
and the substitution therefor of the following:
5A. (1) A member of the Board shall, subject
to the other provisions of this Act, hold office for a
term of three years and may be re-appointed for a
further and final term of three years. (2) A member shall, on the expiration of the
term for which the member is appointed, continue to
hold office until another member is appointed, but in
no case shall the further period exceed four months.

which the member is appointed, continue to
hold office until another member is appointed, but in
no case shall the further period exceed four months.

(3) The office of a member of the Board
becomes vacant if that member —
(a) dies;
(b) is adjudged bankrupt under any written
law;
(c) is absent, without reasonable excuse, from
three consecutive meetings of the
Board, of which the member has had
notice, without the prior approval of the
Board;
(d) resigns by giving one month’s notice, in
writing, to the Minister;
(e) is legally disqualified from performing the
functions of a member;
(f) is convicted of an offence under this Act
or any other written law and sentenced
to imprisonment for a term exceeding
six months, without an option of a fine;
(g) ceases to be an employee or a member
of the ministry, institution or organisation
that the member is representing; or
(h) is removed by the Minister. (4) Where there is a vacancy in the membership
of the Board before the expiry of the term of office,
the Minister shall appoint another person to replace
the member who vacates office but that person shall
only hold office for the remainder of the term. Repeal and
replacement
of section
5A
Tenure and
vacancy of
office of
member of
Board
Flying Doctor Service (Amendment) [No. 52 of 2026 699

f the term. Repeal and
replacement
of section
5A
Tenure and
vacancy of
office of
member of
Board
Flying Doctor Service (Amendment) [No. 52 of 2026 699

700 [No. 52 of 2026 Flying Doctor Service (Amendment)
5. The principal Act is amended by the repeal of section 6 and
the substitution therefor of the following:
6. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this
Act, the Board may regulate its own procedure. (2) The Board shall meet for the transaction
of business at least once in every three months at
such places and times as the Board may determine. (3) The Chairperson shall, on giving notice of
not less than fourteen days, call for a meeting of the
Board, or were one third or more of the members so
request, in writing, except that if the urgency of a
particular matter does not permit the giving of a
notice, a special meeting may be called on giving a
shorter notice. (4) Seven members of the Board shall
constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Board. (5) There shall preside at a meeting of the
Board —
(a) the Chairperson;
(b) in the absence of the Chairperson, the
Vice-Chairperson; or
(c) in the absence of both the Chairperson
and the Vice-Chairperson, such other
member as the members present may
elect for the purpose of that meeting.

) in the absence of both the Chairperson
and the Vice-Chairperson, such other
member as the members present may
elect for the purpose of that meeting.

(6) A decision of the Board on any question
shall be by a majority of the members present and
voting at the meeting and in the event of an equality
of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall
have a casting vote, in addition to that person’s
deliberative vote. (7) The Board may invite any person, whose
presence is in its opinion desirable, to attend and to
participate in the deliberations of a meeting of the
Board, but that person shall have no vote. (8) The validity of any proceedings, acts or
decisions of the Board shall not be affected by any
vacancy in the membership of the Board or by any
defect in the appointment of any member or by reason
that any person not entitled to do so, took part in the
proceedings. Proceedings
of Board
Repeal and
replacement
of section 6

any member or by reason
that any person not entitled to do so, took part in the
proceedings. Proceedings
of Board
Repeal and
replacement
of section 6

Flying Doctor Service (Amendment) [No. 52 of 2026 701
(9) The Board shall cause minutes to be kept
of the proceedings of the meetings of the Board and
of any committee constituted by the Board. 6. Section 7 (1) of the principal Act is amended by the —
(a) deletion of paragraph (e); and
(b) renumbering of paragraphs (f), (g) and (h) as paragraphs
(e), (f) and (g), respectively. 7. The principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following
new section immediately after section 7A:
7B. (1) The Board shall appoint a Director of
the Service who shall be —
(a) the chief executive officer of the Service;
and
(b) responsible for the day-to-day
administration of the Service. (2) The Director of the Service shall perform
functions as may be assigned to the Director of the
Service by the Board and this Act. (3) The Board shall appoint other staff of the
Service that the Board considers necessary for the
performance of the functions of the Service. (4) The Board shall determine the terms and
conditions of service, other than emoluments, of the
Director and other staff of the Service.

the Service. (4) The Board shall determine the terms and
conditions of service, other than emoluments, of the
Director and other staff of the Service.

(5) The Emoluments Commission shall, on the
recommendation of the Board, determine the
emoluments of the Director and other staff of the
Service. Amendment
of section 7
Insertion of
section 7B
Director and
other staff of
Service

702