8 terms of this Act or any other enactment. 11 Responsibility for administration of Health Service Subject to this Act— (a) the number of offices, posts and grades in the Health Service shall be fixed by the Board in consultation with the Minister and with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance; (b) the general supervision of members of the Health Service shall be the responsibility of the Board. 12 Appointments, promotions and dismissals (1) The appointment, assignment and promotion of persons to offices, posts and grades within the Health Service Secretariat shall be effected by the Board. (2) Subject to such directions as the Board may give, the appointment, assignment and promotion of persons to offices, posts and grades at central and provincial or district hospitals shall be effected by hospital management boards. (3) When considering persons for appointment to or promotion within the Health Service, the Board or hospital management board concerned shall— (a) have regard to the merit principle, that is, the principle that preference should be given to the person who in its opinion is the most efficient and suitable for appointment to the office, post or grade concerned; and (b) ensure that there is no discrimination on the ground of race, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, gender or physical disability. (4) The discipline, suspension and dismissal of persons from the Health Service Secretariat shall be effected by the Board. (5) The discipline, suspension and dismissal of persons employed at any central, provincial or district hospital shall be effected by the hospital management board of the hospital concerned. 13 Conditions of service of members of Health Service (1) The conditions of service applicable to members of the Health Service, including their remuneration, allowances, pension benefits, leave of absence, hours of work, discipline and discharge, shall be fixed by the Board, in consultation with the Minister: Provided that, to the extent that such conditions may result in an increase in expenditure chargeable on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance shall be obtained. (2) Conditions of service may be fixed in terms of subsection (1) by means of service regulations, notices, circulars or in any other manner that the Board, consider will best bring the conditions to the attention of members of the Health Service who are affected by them: Provided that, in the event of any conflict between service regulations and the contents of any such notice or circular, the service regulations shall prevail to the extent of the conflict. (3) Subject to Schedule 6 to the Constitution, the Board may, in terms of subsection (1) alter the conditions of service of existing members of the Health Service: