Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Health and Safe Environment

Every person has the right to a healty and safe environment that will ensure their physical and mental health well-being, including adequate supply of resources, sanitation and waste disposal as well as protection from all forms of environmental hazards, such as pollution and infection.

Participation in Decision Making

Every person has the right to participate in decision-making on matters affecting one's health.

Access to Health Care

Everyone has the right to access to health care services that include:

Receiving timely emergency care.

Treatment and rehabilitation that must be made known to the patient to enable the patient to understand such treatment or rehabilitation and the consequences thereof.

Provision of essential areas in the case of newborn infants, children, pregnant women, the aged, disabled persons, patients in pain, persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Referral to palliative care that is affordable and effective in cases of incurable or terminal illnesses.

A positive attitude displaced by health care providers that demonstrate courtesy, human dignity, patience, empathy and tolerance.

Health information that includes the availability of health services and how best to use those services and such information shall be in the language understood by the patient.

In the event when your child is admitted into hospital, you have the right to information concerning the nature and the treatment of your child's illness.

While it is your right to care, you also have the obligation to listen to medical advice and instructions concerning your treatment.

Choice of Health Services

Every person has the right to choose a particular health facility for treatment provided that the treatment shall not be contrary to the ethical standard applicable to such health care providers or facilities and the choice of facility in line with prescribed service delivery guidelines.

Treatment by Professional Natural Health care Provider

Everyone has a right to know the person that is providing health care services and therefore must be attended by clearly identified health care providers.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Information concerning health care treatment may only be disclosed with informed consent, except when required in terms of any law or an order of the court.

Informed Consent

Every person has the right to be given full and accurate information about the nature of one's illnesses, diagnostic procedures, the proposed treatment and the cost involved for one to make a decision that affect anyone of those elements. In the event that surgery is anticipated in your treatment plan you have the right to be consulted and be information about the nature of the operation and the consequences.

Refusal of Treatment

A person may refuse treatment and such refusal shall be in writing provided that such refusal does not endanger the health of others. However, the patient will be accepted back to the health facility when he/she has reversed the decision.

Referral for Second Opinion

Everyone has the right to be referred for a second opinion on request to another health provider.

Continuity of Care

No one shall be abandoned by a health care professional worker or health facility that initially took responsibility for one's health.

Complaint About Health Services

Every person has the right to complain about the health care services and to have such complaints investigated and to receive a full response on such investigations to relevant authority.

To advise the health care providers of his/her wishes regarding his/her death.

To comply with the prescribed treatment or rehabilitation procedure.

To enquire about the related cost of treatment or rehabilitation procedure.

To take care of his/her records in his/her possession.

To take care of his/her health.

To respect the right of other patients and health providers.

To utilize the health care system and not abuse it.

To provide health care providers with relevant and accurate information for diagnostic, rehabilitation or counseling purposes.

To request assistance or help when required.