Olorunfemi: Patients’ Bill Of Rights Will Guide Us In Determining Cause Of Death – FCCPC

A nine-man investigative panel has been inaugurated to ascertain the cause of death of Greatness Olorunfemi in Maitama District Hospital in Abuja.

The inauguration is to start the process of findings aimed at charting the means of improving and achieving efficient healthcare delivery for the residents of FCT.

Speaking at the forum, the executive vice chairman/chief executive officer, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Babatunde Irukera, who is also a member of the panel, said the Patients’ Bill of Rights would be one of the major considerations that the panel would look at to determine if anything went wrong as well as strengthening the value chain to prevent avoidable fatality.

Former vice-president Yemi Osinbajo had in July 2018 launched the bill which is meant to articulate the rights of patients in the health care sector.

The bill was aimed at effectively addressing the issue of consumer abuse in the health care sector.

It highlights the responsibilities of patients and eliminates prevailing ambiguities regarding the legitimate expectations patients should have when receiving care from providers.

Also, as a standard setting effort, the bill is a transparent benchmark that empowers consumers to recognise, demand and insist that their rights be respected, while guiding providers about the scope and extent of their obligations to patients.

Under the bill, patients can demand rights to relevant information in a language and manner they understand, right to timely access to detailed and accurate medical records and available services, right to transparent billing and full disclosure of any cost and right to privacy and confidentiality of medical records, among others.

Earlier, the mandate secretary, Health Services & Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the seven-day ultimatum to submit their report and recommendations would ascertain the clinical status at the time of arrival of the patient Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi at the Maitama Districts Hospital and any progression to and until her death.