DRAFT CHARTER OF PATIENTS’ RIGHTS

About:

• The draft, prepared by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has been put up on the Health Ministry’s website on August 30 for comments and suggestions.
  
  
• Patients will have the right to:
  • Emergency medical care,
    
    
  • informed consent,
    
    
  • non-discrimination,
    
    
  • seek a second opinion and
    
    
  • choose alternative treatment options.
    
    
  
  
  
• Implementation mechanism: The Ministry plans to implement the Charter of Patients’ Rights through State governments for provision of proper health care by clinical establishments.
  
  
• Significance: Although some States have adopted the national Clinical Establishments Act 2010 and others have enacted their own laws to regulate hospitals, there is no consolidated document on patients’ rights that can be followed by all States uniformly.