Introduction
The quality of health services must be guaranteed for universal health coverage to have the intended health results. Quality issues have long been a top priority in Tanzania, especially the issue of insufficient and poor regular supporting monitoring of healthcare professionals by council health executive teams. The government’s responsibility to respect, preserve, fulfill, and advance the right to health is measured by the fact that health is recognized as a constitutional right. This essay seeks to demonstrate the patient’s rights in Tanzanian healthcare delivery.
Right to Medical Treatment
The patient has the right to have medical guidance and care that adheres to the most currently recognized standards of quality and care. In view of recognized modern medical procedures, the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC) created and implemented the current acceptable standards. Promotive, preventative, reproductive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care are all included in the definition of health care (World Health Organization, 2021). Additionally, patients with special requirements, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant mothers, and children under the age of five, have the right to prioritized access to medical care; nonetheless, triage should be followed.
Right to Safety
Delivering high-quality, vital healthcare services requires a commitment to patient safety. Hence, t his tries to avoid and minimize risks, mistakes, and harm to patients throughout healthcare delivery. Continuous progress focused on learning from mistakes, and unfavorable circumstances is a tenet of the discipline. The patient has a right to attentive service from trained employees in a clean, healthy environment. Additionally, the patient has a right to be guarded against contracting new infections within a medical setting.
Right to Information
The patient has a right to information about the health care services provided, the costs associated with such services, and the right to records like receipts. All patients at the medical institution, irrespective of their health, socioeconomic level, or limitations like intellectual, visual, physical, hearing, or age, should have easy access to the information (MoHCDGEC, 2018). Braille, big print, audiovisual materials, plain language, and sign language interpreting services are just a few examples of the information available in accessible formats for people with disabilities.
Right to Privacy and Confidentiality
Patients have the right to privacy, and practitioners must keep patient information secret due to the patient-physician relationship. Clients are entitled to privacy that respects their unique religious and cultural views. The quality of services and physical settings vary among establishments for historical reasons. However, every commitment will be made to adhere to basic requirements to safeguard clients’ privacy. The patient has a right to the confidentiality of information pertaining to their medical condition. Typically, a client’s medical details will not be disclosed to a third party except for that client’s specific permission or as may be required by law (MoHCDGEC, 2018). Even when a patient dies, their medical concerns must remain confidential.
Right to Dignity and Respect
The demand for respect and dignity is one of the essential human wants. A person’s need does not alter due to illness or disability. The right to be handled and treated with respect, decency, and compassion belongs to the client, their family, and the caregivers. The patient’s right is to be addressed by name, not by diagnosis, race, tribe, or nationality (MoHCDGEC, 2018). When making clinical decisions, respecting the client’s diverse cultural, religious, and ethical perspectives is essential. Care should be delivered in a sensitive, considerate, and caring manner that doesn’t go against standard medical procedures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tanzania has long prioritized quality concerns, particularly the issue of inadequate and subpar frequent supportive monitoring of medical personnel while on duty. This essay provided an illustration of patient rights in the delivery of healthcare in Tanzania. These rights include the right to receive medical care, the right to knowledge, the right to safety, the right to privacy and secrecy, and the right to respect and dignity.
References
Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children. (2018). National Client’s Service Charter for Health Facilities.
World Health Organization. (2021). Universal health coverage (UHC). Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO.