…advocates Patients’ Bills of Rights in Bauchi
Segun Babatunde, Bauchi
The Federal Government Agency under the the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has officially domesticated the Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi State.
Our Correspondent reports that FCCPC which has been mandated to protect the citizens’ bills of rights medically, have came up with modalities and developed “patterns of patients’ bills of rights for the protection of consumers, such rights has not limited to the following underlined fundamentals, consumer protection acts, child rights acts, national health acts among other instruments of rights.
Speaking during the during the official Domestication of the PBoR by the hospital held Wednesday in Bauchi, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC Babatunde Irukera said that the fundamental essence of the advocacy is to offer adequate enlightenment and sensitization inline with protection of patients’ bills of rights,rights of patients’ to dignity, cleanliness and proper medical attention as health caregivers.
Irukera equally pointed out that the patients’ bills of rights must be protected within the ambit of laws of the federation within the confine procedures, ethics, guidelines and regulations of the medical profession to the best globally acceptable practices and standard.
He said that patients’ bill of rights is not a new bill, the documents may be new but the right inherent in the document existed forever adding it is not because those rights haven’t existed it because over time progressively “our institution to strengthen the respect and observance of those rights have either failed or ommited to pay the appropriate attention.”
According to him, “What the FECCPC want to do is to reset that bottons recatalist the process where those rights are highlighted the two sides of the divide, the providers and all the stakeholders within the providing community where a patient who knows his or her right and willing to demand for those rights, and beyond demanding that rights, insisting on those rights.”
Irukera said that another part of the regulatory framework is discipline especially professional discipline for different profession were applicable, “The second most important component of the patient rights, is a provider and every operating of the provider who also knows those rights and recognises the obligations to the patients and setup an apparatus to respect and compliance of those rights,”
“The third components is the regulatory framework that compelled compliance and in the absence of compliance has consequences management system that shows that failure to comply or respect the rights of patients has consequences”.
Irukera further revealed that the framework entails patients to have access to all relevant information in a language that the patient understands including complete and accurate information about diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, procedures and possible outcome, “to fully participate in implementing the treatment plan and making decisions. To express dissatisfaction regarding service and or provider including personnel changes and abuse.”
He noted that PBoR is an aggregation of patients right that existed in other instruments including the Constitution, Consumer Protection Act, Child Right Act, Freedom of Information Act, National Health Act, the Hippocratic Oath, other professional ethical codes and sundry regulations
He added that the role of commission in domesticating the bill was stimulate public acceptance to their rights, “We owe you this obligations, we will be intentional in making sure that you know your rights. Our operatives will advise you where you are dissatisfied there is a way to complain. Our operatives will always asked if you have questions about your treatment. We will also make sure that our operatives knows your rights also in language the patient understand or it’s relation.”
Earlier in his remarks, Chief Medical Director(CMD), ATBUTH, Professor Yusuf Jibrin, assured the commission that the hospital is ready for the domestication of the bill, adding that management of the hospital priorities information and communication to ensure the rights of patients are protected through upholding the discipline, ethical and professional conduct among it’s staff.
“The management of the hospital don’t take unethical practices of caregivers lightly which has helped to remarkable reduced the number of litigations. I can’t remember when last we were taken to court for negligence or some unethical practice. The only problem we have in this hospital is lack of information and communication from patients and relatives to address the patients rights,” Jibrin said.
He further informed the gathering that the hospital on its efforts to improve effective health care delivery have converted its basic nursing courses to awarding diploma not just certificate. Adding that the hospital is going to liaise with Federal University of Health and Nutrition to start awarding degree programme on Bsc Nursing at Azare.
He thanked the commissioner for these wonderful efforts and assured him of the hospital support in domesticating the bill in the hospital by all staff and management.
At the Government House, the delegation were been received by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kashim Ibrahim, onbehalf of Bauchi state Governor, Senator Bala Mohammad, said the state government has fully welcomed these great initiatives, and assured the commission of their readiness to complement with patients’ bills of rights and ensure those rights are protected through the required laid -down procedures across all medical facilities in the state.
Similarly, at the Emir’s palace, Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, appreciates the commission for coming up with patients’ bills of rights saying, this will go along way in improving the health care delivery in the country.
The Emir however, urged all care- givers to support this great policy and as well to adhere strictly to patients’ bills of rights accordingly.
He then assured the commission of the support for all traditional institutions in the state.
Other highlights of the event was a drama presentation, singing and unveiling of the PBoR guide lines at the hospital.
