By Adeyinka AdeniranÂ
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has solicited for the entrenchment and domestication of the Patients’ Bill of Right (PBoR) by state governments as well as concerned healthcare providers in their various healthcare family.
This, the Commission said will serve as a measure to increase consumers’ confidence in the healthcare services they receive as well as guarantee an improved consumer relationship and cooperation.
FCCPC made the call on Thursday at a training for healthcare provider on the importance of the PBOR.
The training organized by a non governmental organisation, Ace, in collaboration with FCCPC had Caregivers, media men and different stakeholders in the healthcare sector brainstorming on the importance of the BPoR and the inevitable need to domesticate it in various health facilities even before it becomes an Act.
The provisions of the PBoR includes: rights to access information, rights to confidentiality, right to consent to or refuse treatment, the right to quality of care, right to emergency services, obligations of patients to pay their bills etc.
Fielding questions from journalists at the event, the Technical Assistance to the Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Mrs. Morayo Adisa said the training is being facilitated for healthcare workers in Southwpest region to sensitize them on the Patients’ Bill of Right because it is a document that collates all the rights of the patients under Nigerian law and includes the responsibility of the patient as well as those of healthcare providers to their patients.
She added that the commission hopes that with the sensitization program, healthcare providers would hopefully domesticate the PBoR in their facilities which would increase the confidence of patients in such facilities.
Mrs Adisa said, “Indeed the National Health Act was passed in 2014 and it includes a lot of things. I would say that in as much as we are not yet satisfied with the implementation of the National Health Act, this is the more reason why the FCCPC came up with the PBoR in 2018 to simplify the rights of patients and make it more accessible.
“Certainly, grassroots level engagement is very important because if the people don’t know their right, they won’t be able to assert or enforce it or come to people like us to complain when such rights are being violated. Our strategy is to sensitize consumers at the grassroots level and also healthcare providers.
“As long as we continue on this sensitization path which we started in 2018, over 20 healthcare facilities have domesticated the PBoR. That is, when you enter such facilities, you see at the entrance or reception, a bold signage which says these are the rights of the patients.
“Patients confidence in such facilities would be enriched because a facility that would declared patients’ rights would definitely be willing to go beyond declaring those rights to promoting, protecting and enforcing those rights.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Oyo State, Dr. Wale Lasisi noted that with recent advancement in internet use, most people; patients and doctors inclusive are being enlightened on their rights and there is the assurance that improvements will be experienced as regards rights of patients and caregivers.
Participants at the training expressed optimism that they hope stakeholders would work the talk as regards implementation of the PBoR which would go along way in protecting both the patients’ and doctors’ rights.
Mrs. Bolanle Kolajo; the Chief Nursing Officer; St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos said Nigerians are set to enjoy many benefits from the PBoR and called on stakeholders to tackle the issue of quackery in the medical industry.
