WHO introduced first Patient Safety Rights Charter

25 Apr 2024 WHO introduced first Patient Safety Rights Charter

This article covers ‘Daily Current Affairs’ and the topic details of ”WHO introduced first Patient Safety Rights Charter”. This topic is relevant in the “Social Issues” section of the UPSC CSE exam.

Why in the News? 

The first Patient Safety Rights Charter was introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) during the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety. This pioneering document delineates the rights of patients within the realm of safety, marking a significant milestone. 

Patient safety Rights as per the charter

• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Patient Safety Rights Charter to advocate for patients’ fundamental right to safe healthcare. This charter serves as a guide for governments and healthcare institutions to prioritise patient safety and empower patients to be active participants in their care.
• The charter outlines ten core rights that healthcare systems must uphold to minimise risks and prevent unintended harm to patients. These rights encompass various aspects of patient care, including:

1. Right to timely, effective, and tailored care including out-of-hours support and prompt notification of critical test results. Ensures evidence-based and culturally sensitive care to prevent harm and monitor post-discharge recovery.
2. Right to safe healthcare processes, including accurate documentation, evidence-based pathways, and safe medication practices to prevent harm.
3. Right to qualified and compassionate health workers adhering to professional standards and respecting patient rights, with access to facility information.
4. Right to safe medical products and their rational use, ensuring access to quality products and empowering patients and health workers to report adverse reactions.
5. Right to safe healthcare facilities, emphasising accessibility, structural integrity, cleanliness, infection control, and protection from violence and exploitation.
6. Right to dignity, respect, non-discrimination, privacy, and confidentiality, ensuring equitable treatment and protection of personal information.
7. Right to information, education, and supported decision-making, providing clear and culturally appropriate information, support for decision-making, and access to medical records.
8. Right to access medical records in a usable format, control over information use, data protection, and secure handling of records.
9. Right to be heard and fair resolution, allowing patients to report incidents without fear of reprisal, with clear explanations and fair processes for resolution and prevention.
10. Right to patient and family engagement, enabling active participation in care decisions, advance directives, seeking second opinions, and involvement in healthcare system improvement.

Significance of the Patient Safety Charter

• Prioritising Patient Well-being: A Patient Safety Charter would establish a clear framework for prioritising patient well-being throughout the healthcare system. This would encompass best practices, protocols, and guidelines to minimise risks and promote safe care delivery.
• Standardisation and Consistency: A charter can promote standardisation and consistency in healthcare practices across different institutions. This reduces variability and ensures a baseline level of safety for patients regardless of where they receive care.
• Collaboration and Transparency: The charter can foster collaboration between healthcare providers, patients, and families. By encouraging open communication and transparency around safety concerns, it empowers all stakeholders to participate in risk identification and mitigation.
• Accountability and Improvement: A Patient Safety Charter would establish clear lines of accountability for ensuring safe care. This encourages continuous improvement by setting measurable goals and tracking progress in reducing patient harm.
• Building Trust and Confidence: By demonstrating a strong commitment to patient safety, a charter can rebuild public trust and confidence in the healthcare system. This is crucial for encouraging individuals to seek care without undue fear of complications.

Challenges for Patient Safety in India

• Resource Constraints: Limited resources, including a shortage of qualified healthcare personnel, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of essential equipment, can compromise patient safety. Overcrowded facilities and overworked staff can lead to errors in diagnosis, medication administration, and surgical procedures.
• Fragmented Healthcare System: The Indian healthcare system is fragmented, with a mix of public and private providers operating under different regulations and standards. This lack of cohesion can create inconsistencies in care delivery and make it difficult to implement and monitor safety initiatives on a national scale.
• Medical Culture: A hierarchical medical culture, where senior doctors are less likely to be questioned, can hinder open communication and reporting of errors. This can create a culture of blame rather than one focused on learning and improvement.
• Patient Education and Awareness: Limited health literacy among patients can lead to misunderstandings about treatment plans and medication use. Additionally, cultural beliefs and practices can sometimes conflict with recommended medical procedures, posing safety risks.
• Counterfeit Drugs and Unsafe Practices: The presence of counterfeit drugs and the persistence of unsafe practices, such as needle reuse, contribute to patient harm. Addressing these issues requires robust regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms.
• Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs): Inadequate infection control protocols and a lack of emphasis on hand hygiene contribute to the spread of HAIs, which can have serious consequences for patients.

Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 25th April 2024

Prelims practise question

Q1. What is the primary goal of the National Patient Safety Implementation Framework (NPSIF) 2018-2025?

(a). To establish institutional framework/mechanisms

(b) To improve patient safety at all levels of healthcare

(c) To promote infection prevention and control

(d) To ensure safety in programmatic and clinical domains

Answer: B

Mains practise question

Q1. Discuss the factors contributing to the low penetration of health insurance in India. How do socioeconomic factors, lack of awareness, and trust issues impact the adoption of health insurance among the population?

Himanshu Mishra

I am a content developer and have done my Post Graduation in Political Science. I have given 2 UPSC mains, 1 IB ACIO interview and have cleared UGC NET JRF too.