FCCPC Domesticates Patients’ Bill of Rights in ATBUTH 

Segun  Awofadeji in Bauchi

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.

FCCPC which has been mandated to protect the citizens’ bills of rights medically, has come up with modalities and developed “patterns of patients’ bills of rights for the protection of consumers and such rights include consumer protection acts, child rights acts, national health acts among other instruments of rights.

Speaking during the official domestication of the PBoR by the hospital held yesterday in Bauchi, the Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, said that the fundamental essence of the advocacy is to offer adequate enlightenment and sensitisation in line 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 omitted to pay the appropriate attention.”

According to him, “What the FECCPC wants to do is to reset the buttons, 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 professions. “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 comply with those rights.

“The third component is the regulatory framework that compels 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 to stimulate public acceptance of their rights. “We  owe you these obligations, we will be intentional in making sure that you know your rights. Our operatives will advise you where you are dissatisfied and there is a way to complain. Our operatives will always ask if you have questions about your treatment. We will also make sure that our operatives know your rights also in language the patient understands or its relation.”

Earlier in his remarks, Chief Medical Director (CMD), ATBUTH, Professor Yusuf Jibrin, assured that 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 its staff.

“The management of the hospital don’t take unethical practices of caregivers lightly which has helped to remarkably reduce 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 in its efforts to improve effective healthcare delivery has converted its basic nursing courses to awarding diplomas not just certificates, 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 was received by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kashim Ibrahim, on behalf of Bauchi state Governor, Senator Bala Mohammad.

According to him, the state government has fully welcomed these great initiatives and assured the commission of their readiness to complement 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, commended the commission for coming up with patients’ bills of rights saying this will go a long way in improving the healthcare delivery in the country.

The Emir, however, urged all caregivers to support this great policy and 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 were drama presentation, singing and unveiling of the PBoR guide lines at the hospital.