Anambra Government Inaugurates Group For Implementation Of Patients’ Right

Adamawa State Governor, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, has inaugurated a community group for the introduction and implementation of Patient’s Bill of Rights (PBOR), 2018.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Fintiri inaugurated the group during the launching of a campaign on Provider Accountability and Patient’s Bill of Right in the state, on Tuesday in Yola.

 NAN also reports that the governor was represented by the Head of Civil Service in the state, Dr Edgar Amos.

The governor explained that the main aim of the inauguration if to make sure that patients are given standard health attention, and also to ensure that patients’ rights are protected while undergoing medical treatment. 

“There are grave concerns about the quality of care, particularly concerning the conduct of health care workers.

It was as a result of this that the Federal Ministry of Health, in conjunction with Consumer Protection Council and other stakeholders, launched the

Patient’s Bill of Rights (PBOR) in July 2018,” he said.

Fintiri noted that the project was aimed at sensitising health workers on the need to bridge the gap and live up to expectations through provision of high quality care.

“To ensure effectiveness of the project, there is the dire need to leverage the existing and effective community participation mechanisms in the context of health service delivery.

“In line with the above, the state government has established community groups that will be empowering consumers to take action and include non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the efforts at expanding access to care,” he said.

 In her remarks, Moji Makanjuola, Founder of International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMOH), said that the Strengthening Provider Accountability and Patient’s Rights is set to enhance transparency and effectiveness  in primary healthcare.

Makanjuola said that  implementation of patient’s rights, including accountability and safety is the only way to effective health care delivery and it would boost the confidence between patients and healthcare providers, noting that 

“The government has launched many schemes to improve health care services.

"However, the envisioned impacts, in most cases, have not been delivered to significantly improve the healthcare outcomes.

“It, therefore, stands to reason that strengthening provider accountability and patient’s rights to enhance transparency and effectiveness in primary healthcare is a sure way to undergird our health system from bottom up,” Makanjuola said.

Makanjuola further said that the patient’s rights project was supported by USAID and implemented by International Society of Media in Public Health, in conjunction with IHAT.

 In his address, the Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Sulaiman Bashir, said that the project would be piloted in Yola North at initial stage and subsequently extended to other health care centres across the state.