AS a patient, your need compromises what should have been your rights. No wonder many patients don’t know they have rights, which healthcare providers have an obligation to protect.
The Uganda National Health Consumers’ Organisation (UNHCO), together with the Ministry of Health, have come up with a patients’ charter to advocate the patients’ rights. The draft was reviewed at Hotel Equatoria recently. Patients’ rights include; the right to medical care, prohibition of discrimination, participation in decision-making, continuity of care, confidentiality and privacy, the right to be treated by a named health care provider, a health and safe environment.
The commissioner for health services, Emmanuel Kaijuka, says several health workers in Uganda are impolite; patients tire in long queues waiting for treatment, drugs are inadequate and referral systems are weak. All these must be addressed in the patients’ charter.
The national coordinator UNHCO, Robinah Kaitiritimba, says if patients were aware of their rights, they would demand the best from health workers.
The charter guarantees patients’ rights to die in dignity with spiritual and moral comfort, including the help of religious ministers of one’s religion of choice. However, these rights imply responsibilities if mutual understanding with the health providers is to exist.
They have to be truthful when providing information about their health.
Complaints, past illnesses, medical treatment obtained and hospitalisation must be made available to providers.
Patients should know their rights
