A nationwide campaign to raise awareness on patient and healthcare users' rights has been launched, kicking off in Kigali City's Nyarugenge, Muhima, Masaka, and Kibagabaga hospitals.
The HDI-Rwanda Director of the Center for Health and Rights, Christopher Sengoga, said that his organisation is building on previous similar approaches to build patient trust and satisfaction that can, in turn, contribute to an improvement in healthcare services. For example, on informed consent, he explained that healthcare providers will be taken through the importance of providing patients with prior thorough explanations on medical procedures, their potential risks, and alternative treatments to patients, ensuring they understand and voluntarily agree to the proposed care.
The dialogue included clarifications on the legal obligations of healthcare providers to inform patients of their rights and the availability of safe abortion services, ensuring that patients can make informed decisions.During the launch series, a segment was dedicated to discussing barriers to patient-centered care. Key issues included high healthcare provider workload and tight schedules, which often lead to rushed consultations and incomplete patient education.
After training, a pharmacist working at the Muhima Hospital pharmacy, Odilla Utamuriza, admitted that she was ready to work on how much time she spends on each patient, despite how busy she may be.