MQHZ demands accountability over patient rights and dignity

Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) is calling for stronger accountability in the health sector, warning that gaps in patient rights and dignity continue to affect trust in healthcare services.

MQHZ Director General Dr Quince Mwabu says patients deserve more than medical treatment when they seek care. They should also receive clear information, privacy, respectful treatment and an opportunity to have their concerns heard and addressed.

Dr Mwabu says patient rights are a fundamental part of safe and quality healthcare, arguing that meaningful improvement cannot be achieved when patients are not treated with dignity or adequately involved in decisions about their care.

He acknowledged efforts by Government, health institutions and professional regulatory bodies to promote patient-centred care, strengthen accountability and improve responsiveness in health facilities.

However, he said there remains a gap between policy commitments and the experiences of some patients.

According to Dr Mwabu, concerns include inadequate communication, limited explanations of diagnoses and treatment options, privacy and confidentiality issues, insufficient involvement of patients in healthcare decisions and weaknesses in complaint-handling systems.

He said patient experience should not be viewed simply as a measure of satisfaction, but as an important indicator of healthcare quality and patient safety.

“When patients are not adequately informed, when their concerns are not addressed, or when their dignity is compromised, trust in the healthcare system is weakened,” Dr Mwabu said.

MQHZ is therefore calling on the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of patient-rights standards across healthcare facilities.

The organisation is also calling for functional feedback and complaints mechanisms in every health institution, alongside stronger training for healthcare workers in communication, ethics, confidentiality, informed consent and respectful care.

Dr Mwabu further urged health institutions to use patient-experience data to identify weaknesses and improve the quality of healthcare services.

He said protecting patient dignity should be a shared responsibility involving health leaders, facility managers, regulators, professional bodies and healthcare workers.