8. The HSCSO shall meet at least once a year under the chairpersonship of the Member State co-ordinating the Sector. 9. Members of the HSCSO shall also be the Contact Points for the Health Sector in Member States, and be responsible for co-ordinating the participation of Member States in the work of the Sector. Each Health Sector Contact Point shall establish and maintain effective consultation with the Health Sector Co-ordinating Unit on matters concerning the Health Sector in Member States. 10. The functions of the HSCSO are the following: a) to be the clearing house for the HSCM, and examine all reports and documents put before it by the Health Sector Coordinating Unit, the SADC Secretariat and technical sub-committees; b) to advise the HSCM on issues, proposals and projects to be presented to the Council for consideration and approval; c) to review the Health Sector Programme of Action to ensure that it is consistent with the objectives of the Sector and those of SADC; d) to receive all communications from the Health Sector Co-ordinating Unit pertaining to the work of the Health Sector and ensure that the relevant national institutions and key stakeholders, including the private sector, are kept informed of the work of the Sector; and e) to report to the HSCM on matters relating to the implementation of the provisions contained in this Protocol. Technical Committees 11. There shall be technical sub-committees established to assist in the technical work of the Health Sector. 12. The composition and functions of the technical sub-committees shall be determined by the HSCM which may delegate this function to the HSCSO. --ARTICLE 5 FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 1. Member States shall bear their own costs for participating at the regular and annual meetings of the Health Sector, except that the costs of the HSCU shall be borne by the Member State co-ordinating the Health Sector. 2. Projects, programmes and special studies may be financed from various sources and stakeholders such as international organisations and co-operating partners (donors), or contributions by Member States. 3. The Health Sector may accept gifts, grants, legacies, and donations from any source provided that this shall be done in conformity with the objectives of this Protocol, and any guidelines that may be determined by the HSCM. Information relating to such assistance shall be conveyed to the HSCM. 4. The HSCM shall consider and approve arrangements proposed by the HSCU for the self-generation of funds by the Health Sector. 5. Paragraphs 2,3 and 4 shall not be construed as prohibiting subsidiary agreements for the purpose of adopting any other financing arrangements, provided that they are based on equity balance and a benefit to SADC. --ARTICLE 6 HEALTH SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE Member States shall a) share information on health systems research and surveillance and co-operate and assist each other in its dissemination; b) identify and conduct health systems research using, among others, the Essential Regional Health Research; and c) co-operate and assist each other in regional surveillance with respect to communicable and non-communicable diseases, and to develop a common set of indicators for these diseases. --ARTICLE 7 HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS In order to ensure access to good quality health data and its use in planning and managing health systems, StateS Parties shall develop and formulate coherent, comparable, harmonised and standardised policies with regard to: a) development of a health information systems policy framework; b) development of common definitions and a common data dictionary; c) establishment of mechanisms for information exchange; d) establishment of a SADC Regional Data of Health and Social Service Indicators; and e) development of Tele-Health applications. --- 4