Introduction

One of the key functions of the health system is responsiveness to the needs and demands of the citizens.

Responsiveness describes how well the health system meets the expectations of the citizens, often in the quality of services received and how suitable or appropriate and timely in response.

Everyone seeking or receiving healthcare has certain rights and responsibilities which are often codified as Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR).

Patients’ Bill of Rights

A Patient's Bill of Rights is a citizens’ charter which provides the commitment to the services which will be provided by health institutions (hospitals and other categories of health facilities)

It is an aggregation of patients’ rights that exist in other instruments including the Constitution, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Act, Child Rights Act, Freedom of Information Act, National Health Act, the Hippocratic Oath and other professional ethical codes and sundry regulations. 

It is a list of guarantees for those receiving medical care which clearly spells out the patient’s right to information, urgent medical intervention, secure healthcare environment, to be treated with respect and timely access to medical records which must be treated with confidentiality.

It may take the form of a law or a non-binding declaration.

Typically, a patient's bill of rights guarantees patients information, fair treatment, and autonomy over medical decisions, among other rights.

Key Elements are the right to respectful and considerate care, privacy, information about treatment, prognosis, right to refuse treatment.

Why is the Patents’ Bill of Rights Important in Healthcare?

The Patents’ Bill of Rights is a demand side approach to making health service responsive to the desires and the demands of the citizens and clearly defined the levels of care which patients can expect form the health service providers.

Patients’ Bill of Rights Stresses:

1. The importance of a strong relationship between patients and their health care providers
2. The key role patients play in staying healthy by laying out rights and responsibilities for all patients and health care providers

Content of Patients’ Bill of Rights and Responsibilities

The Indisputable Rights include the following:

1. Right to relevant information in a language and manner the patient understands, including diagnosis, treatment, other procedures and possible outcomes.
2. Right of timely access to detail and accurate medical records and available services.
3. Right to transparent billing and full disclosure of cost or estimation of recommended treatment plan services.
4. Right to privacy and confidentiality of all information and medical records unless disclosure is vital and in the interest of public health in accordance with prevailing law.
5. Right to clean, safe and secure healthcare environment.
6. Right to be treated with respect and dignity without prejudice to gender, religion, race, ethnicity, allegation of crimes, geographical location, disability or socio-economic circumstances.
7. Right to receive urgent, immediate and sufficient intervention and care, in the event of an emergency.
8. Right to reasonable visitation in accordance with prevailing rules and regulations.
9. Right to decline care upon full disclosure of the consequences of such decisions.
10. Right to decline or consent to participation in medical research, experimental procedures or clinical trials.
11. Right to be informed about impending interruption or disengagement of services of primary or attending professionals responsible for patient's care.
12. Right to quality care in accordance to prevailing standards.
13. Right to express dissatisfaction regarding service and/or provider, including personnel changes and abuse.

 Patient Responsibilities

These include but not limited to:

1. Giving the health care provider accurate information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and any other information about his or her health.
2. Reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.
3. Reporting to the health care provider whether he or she understands a planned course of action and what is expected of him or her.
4. Following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
5. Keeping appointments and, when unable to do so, notifying the health care provider or facility.
6. His or her actions if treatment is refused or if the patient does not follow the health care provider’s instructions.
7. Making sure financial responsibilities are carried out.
8. Following health care facility conduct rules and regulations

Every citizen has right to get basic information on patients’ rights.

1. Patients’ Bill of Rights has to be displayed at the facilities where services are being provided.
2. Information on Patients’ Bill of Rights should be disseminated to citizens through pamphlets, radio, TV and Newspapers, SMS and social networks in local languages.
3. Civil Society Organizations can promote patients’ rights by setting up complaints and petition platforms to aggregate patients’ grievances and engage relevant institutions.

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