HPCZ Registrar Dr Aaron Mujajati
HEALTH Professional Council of Zambia Registrar Dr Aaron Mujajati says every patient has a right and responsibility under the Patient’s Charter currently in existence with the Council.
Dr Mujajati said the charter will soon be rolled out in all major local languages adding that the charter focuses on the rights that patients have as well and responsibilities.
“We have a charter at the Council that talks about the patients’ rights and responsibilities. What we have discovered is that it is not well distributed,” he said.
Dr Mujajati said the Council has since translated the Charter in local languages and will be distributed countrywide so that people could own it and understand their rights and responsibilities in sofaras as their health is concerned.
He said the patient has a right to be treated without any discrimination by health workers, right to informed consent, right not to be abused as well as right to access to medical records and right to confidentiality.
And on right to confidentiality, Dr Mujajati said this right is sacred in the sense that a medical officer cannot go against a patient’s demand even where one demands that their health record should not be shared with their spouse.
He said the issue of confidentiality is a very serious issue attracts serious sanctions from the Council on the health worker if they decide to abuse it.
Dr Mujajati was speaking on Radio Phoenix programme during the week.
He also said even as patients, they are reminded by the Charter on their responsibility of say keeping appointments, fulfil financial responsibilities as well as respect other patients.
“Patients have the responsibility not to vandalise property n health centres. The biggest worry is abuse of health care workers by either patients or relatives especially verbal which sometimes it gets violent,” he said.
He has called on the patients to desist from such acts but urged that when they feel their rights being violated, they should table the matter with the Council which can take up action against such a health worker.
On the issue of access to quality health care, Dr Mujajati said all should be looked at on an equitable manner and not only carter for those with money and leave out those without because on the platform of health all are equal.
“On the platform of health we are all equal. There is equity on the platform of health ideally,” he said.
As for the issue of shortage of health workers, Dr Mujajati said on globally, sub-Saharan region has 3 percent of the required health personnel as a region and access to financing is one percent of the required to deliver health care services hence a huge challenge in the sector.
He however, commended the Ministry of Health saying it has a robust programme to cover the gap as can be seen by government’s programme of training more health workers.
“We have a massive shortage of health workers and we recognise it but should never be given as an excuse to lower the standards. We must always strive to maintain the standard of care,” he said.
And on moonlighting by some health workers whose conduct may endanger the health of the patients as well as affect the operations of the health centre, the Council gets worried and expects the affected health institution to submit the matter before the Council for action on such a health worker.
