No more detaining dead bodies over bills - health ministry

HEALTH

KAMPALA - Patients' will no longer have to grieve over the unethical conduct of some health workers. The ministry of health has revised the patient charter to promote freedom of patients whose rights have been violated by some health practitioners.

A patient charter is a document that defines the rights and responsibilities of patients and health providers. 

The document which provides legal protection to the patients was signed by the Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the health minister, it places the patient at the centre of care, employing the patient welfare principle. It implores health workers to lead the advocacy of patient rights.

According to the charter, the capacity of Ugandans to demand their health rights is still limited due to inadequate awareness resulting from the limited availability of the requisite information, which translates into poor health indices. 

The charter states that the growing practice of detaining dead bodies and patients over fees by some health facilities will be illegal.

"The patient shall have the right to shorten the length of their stay. The patient shall have the right to be discharged or the caretakers to take the dead body and may not be detained at the health facility because of procedural reasons or pay disputes," reads the document.

Speaking to New Vision, Dr Katumba Ssentongo, the registrar at the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council said that as a council they have come up with a professional fee so that patients are not cheated, and hospitals also stay in business.

"To avoid detaining patients and dead bodies, all health facilities are going to have professional fees so that when you visit a certain hospital, you know exactly what they charge for certain medical issues, it will be up to you to stay or check out another facility," noted Dr Katumba.

Katumba revealed that though the charter provided good provisions, we should not forget that they are so many medical facilities that have made losses because the patient took off without paying or ran to a media house and gave a bad story about the facility to cover up on what they did.

"It is illegal and unprofessional to detain someone in a hospital because the facility is not a gazetted place to detain people. You must get the authority to detain a patient or a dead body from the solicitor general. but patients should also be honest, if you cannot afford a certain health facility go to where you can afford, do not run to the media to tarnish people's names," said Katumba.

Usually, health workers misinterpret assertive patients to be questioning their skills. With the new duties and responsibilities, Patients have the right to understand the kind of treatment they are receiving and the charged fee rates for medicines and medical care and receive an itemised bill.

"The patient shall be entitled to obtain from the health service provider or the medical facility, health information concerning himself/herself, including a copy of his/her medical records," It further reads.

Dr Cyprian Opira, the director of Lacor Hospital said that it is not right to chase away an emergency but if a patient can walk, they should go to public hospitals if they realise that a private hospital is expensive.

"To avoid inconveniences, if a private hospital is expensive, go to a public hospital. Private hospitals have bills to pay," noted Opira.

According to the health ministry, the patient shall have the right to choose where they purchase medicines and care, not necessarily in the health facility where they are being treated. patients and doctors share the decision-making responsibility.

Speaking to New Vision, Brian Luswata, the health ministry legal officer noted that the document can be used in court in case someone wants to sue a health worker who has violated his or her rights.

"If a patient knows their rights, and a health worker abuses it, he or she can use the charter in court. It acts as a persuasive document. Courts can always be guided on the ministry's policy," noted Luswata.

The implementation of the charter will empower health consumers to demand high-quality health care, guide and improve the capacity of health providers in the provision of high-quality services. The charter will also enhance community participation in health provision.

"Health facilities should have at least one of the following avenues of communication accessible to patients: suggestion boxes, toll-free telephone contact, internet-based services: email address, WhatsApp, Facebook, A feedback focal person should be available at the service delivery unit to facilitate this process," read the documents.

Patients are called upon to refrain from lying about their health conditions, using verbal abuse or physical violence against health service providers or other patients.

Any health service provider who contravenes these rights may face appropriate disciplinary actions from the responsible person or body such as the: Health Unit Management Committees, Health Professional Councils, Medical Boards and Courts of law.