May 17, Colombo (LNW): The government has decided to draft a Patient Safety Rights Charter aimed at ensuring the safety of hospitalised patients, announced Health and Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana. According to global reports, one in seven hospitalised patients faces issues during their stay, highlighting the need for such measures worldwide.
Dr. Pathirana made this announcement during a discussion with hospital staff on Wednesday (15), following a special inspection tour of the Gampaha Wathupitiwala Base Hospital. The decision to prepare this Charter comes in response to the various problems patients encounter during hospitalisation.
The Minister noted that the proposal for a Patient Safety Rights Charter was discussed in the Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee and might eventually become law. Last year alone, the Health Ministry received 700 complaints regarding issues arising during patient hospitalisation.
Emphasizing the importance of effective patient-clinician communication as a cornerstone of quality healthcare, Dr. Pathirana stressed the need for a special mechanism to ensure this vital interaction is maintained.
