From: karmayog-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:karmayog-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Karmayog.com
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 1:07 PM
To: karmayog@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Patients’ Bill of Rights - proposed
[The NGO Council is going to propose that such a type of Bill of Rights should be displayed on every floor of every public and private medical care facility. Please give your suggestions and support. Vinay 24520868 www.karmayog.org ]
• To have a list of exact services available and corresponding fees (for supplies and bandages, etc.)
• To have a visible map of the hospital (in Marathi, Hindi, English, and other languages)
• To know and understand the procedures involved
• To be given a reasonable time frame for the treatment
• To know all the costs associated with seeking medical care
• To receive prompt and courteous care
• To be informed about the documentation needed for treatment.
• To have minimal documentation for emergency cases.
• To get Reproductive and Child Health Services free of cost at Public Health facilities.
• To receive medications and vaccinations from the local Public Health post or dispensary.
• To get medical services which are within the capability of the medical facility.
• To obtain from the doctor complete information concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in language the patient can understand.
• To receive necessary information from the doctor such as long-term effects, side-effects, etc. before giving any prior consent to a medical procedure and/or treatment.
• To refuse the suggested treatment and be informed of the medical consequences thereof.
• To receive medical care in well-equipped and sanitised conditions.
• To receive quality care from competent medical professionals.
• To select doctors of one’s choice when possible.
• To privacy during medical check-ups.
• To be assured that all communication and records will be kept confidential
• To educational information about medical problems eg. via a library, IEC materials, etc.
• To be enabled to pay hospital fees on a payment plan
• To have access to a non-hospital staff member appointed to address complaints as soon as possible.
• To have the contact information of responsible person (both at hospital and BMC office) to register a complaint or give feedback.
• To have adequate waiting space
• ??
From: Rajesh R
To: 'Karmayog.com'
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 1:52 PM
Subject: RE: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Should this just be displayed? Should there not be a movement in support of these demands?
Is the title of the mail suggesting that the striking doctors are not concerned with any of this?
Rajesh
From: Karmayog.com [mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 2:00 PM
To: rajeshr@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Yes, this should be followed up.
If doctors in general were concerned, then there should have been a Patients Bill of Rights already, isn't it?
vinay
From: Rajesh R
To: 'Karmayog.com'
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Dear Vinay
Your response suggests that there is no Patients’ Bill of Rights because doctors in general are unconcerned. Isn’t it the job of the legislature and executive to enact and implement Bills of Rights?
Regards
Rajesh
From: Karmayog.com [mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 2:12 PM
To: rajeshr@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
pl read the BMC - NGO Council MOU in www.karmayog.org
From: Rajesh R
To: 'Karmayog.com'
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 3:55 PM
Subject: RE: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Thanks, the MoU is framed sufficiently broadly to tackle some of the main problems highlighted in Meenakshi Verma’s draft report (Accessing Health Care in Mumbai - A Report to MCGM and NGO Council, on Karmayog website) some of which are also problems highlighted by the striking doctors – infrastructural deficit, unfilled vacancies, permission for private practice at the cost of public functions, creeping privatisation of private hospitals, inadequate budgets for preventive health and for smaller hospitals and dispensaries etc.
The proposed Bill of Rights (which is actually a citizens’ charter) also has a point on free reproductive and child health in public hospitals, which contradicts the circular on user fees and charges in municipal hospitals displayed on Karmayog website.
While the Bill of Rights (or citizens’ charter) is OK for a beginning, it would need to be backed up by public pressure on BMC to improve budgetary allocations and arrest the decay of public health services. It would be counter-productive to pit patients against doctors. When NGOs get into an MoU with Government, the public will also hold NGOs accountable for deficits in public service. It just won’t do for NGOs to join hands with the Government to make scapegoats of doctors.
Regards
Rajesh
From: Karmayog.com [mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 3:59 PM
To: rajeshr@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
no one is making a scapegoat of doctors.
the bill of rights is a fundamental requirement and not connected with doctors.
your points are well-taken though. thanks.
btw, who are you?
vinay
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 1:07 PM
To: karmayog@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Patients’ Bill of Rights - proposed
[The NGO Council is going to propose that such a type of Bill of Rights should be displayed on every floor of every public and private medical care facility. Please give your suggestions and support. Vinay 24520868 www.karmayog.org ]
• To have a list of exact services available and corresponding fees (for supplies and bandages, etc.)
• To have a visible map of the hospital (in Marathi, Hindi, English, and other languages)
• To know and understand the procedures involved
• To be given a reasonable time frame for the treatment
• To know all the costs associated with seeking medical care
• To receive prompt and courteous care
• To be informed about the documentation needed for treatment.
• To have minimal documentation for emergency cases.
• To get Reproductive and Child Health Services free of cost at Public Health facilities.
• To receive medications and vaccinations from the local Public Health post or dispensary.
• To get medical services which are within the capability of the medical facility.
• To obtain from the doctor complete information concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in language the patient can understand.
• To receive necessary information from the doctor such as long-term effects, side-effects, etc. before giving any prior consent to a medical procedure and/or treatment.
• To refuse the suggested treatment and be informed of the medical consequences thereof.
• To receive medical care in well-equipped and sanitised conditions.
• To receive quality care from competent medical professionals.
• To select doctors of one’s choice when possible.
• To privacy during medical check-ups.
• To be assured that all communication and records will be kept confidential
• To educational information about medical problems eg. via a library, IEC materials, etc.
• To be enabled to pay hospital fees on a payment plan
• To have access to a non-hospital staff member appointed to address complaints as soon as possible.
• To have the contact information of responsible person (both at hospital and BMC office) to register a complaint or give feedback.
• To have adequate waiting space
• ??
From: Rajesh R
To: 'Karmayog.com'
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 1:52 PM
Subject: RE: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Should this just be displayed? Should there not be a movement in support of these demands?
Is the title of the mail suggesting that the striking doctors are not concerned with any of this?
Rajesh
From: Karmayog.com [mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 2:00 PM
To: rajeshr@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Yes, this should be followed up.
If doctors in general were concerned, then there should have been a Patients Bill of Rights already, isn't it?
vinay
From: Rajesh R
To: 'Karmayog.com'
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 2:12 PM
Subject: RE: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Dear Vinay
Your response suggests that there is no Patients’ Bill of Rights because doctors in general are unconcerned. Isn’t it the job of the legislature and executive to enact and implement Bills of Rights?
Regards
Rajesh
From: Karmayog.com [mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 2:12 PM
To: rajeshr@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
pl read the BMC - NGO Council MOU in www.karmayog.org
From: Rajesh R
To: 'Karmayog.com'
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 3:55 PM
Subject: RE: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
Thanks, the MoU is framed sufficiently broadly to tackle some of the main problems highlighted in Meenakshi Verma’s draft report (Accessing Health Care in Mumbai - A Report to MCGM and NGO Council, on Karmayog website) some of which are also problems highlighted by the striking doctors – infrastructural deficit, unfilled vacancies, permission for private practice at the cost of public functions, creeping privatisation of private hospitals, inadequate budgets for preventive health and for smaller hospitals and dispensaries etc.
The proposed Bill of Rights (which is actually a citizens’ charter) also has a point on free reproductive and child health in public hospitals, which contradicts the circular on user fees and charges in municipal hospitals displayed on Karmayog website.
While the Bill of Rights (or citizens’ charter) is OK for a beginning, it would need to be backed up by public pressure on BMC to improve budgetary allocations and arrest the decay of public health services. It would be counter-productive to pit patients against doctors. When NGOs get into an MoU with Government, the public will also hold NGOs accountable for deficits in public service. It just won’t do for NGOs to join hands with the Government to make scapegoats of doctors.
Regards
Rajesh
From: Karmayog.com [mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 3:59 PM
To: rajeshr@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Patients' Bill of Rights - what do the striking doctors say to this?
no one is making a scapegoat of doctors.
the bill of rights is a fundamental requirement and not connected with doctors.
your points are well-taken though. thanks.
btw, who are you?
vinay