The Ministry of Health (MOH), represented by the Directorate-General of Quality Assurance Center launched today Thursday the Introductory Symposium on the National Patients’ Rights & Responsibilities Document at the lectures hall of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. The event was held under the auspices of H.E. Abdullah Mohammed Al Salmi, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MARA) with the presence of number of their Excellences and Undersecretaries, top of officials from the MOH and MARA, as well as experts from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Remarking of the occasion, H.E. MARA Minister stressed the significance of  National Document launching not only in establishing origin of the rights and obligations in the medical and humanitarian side but because it involved Mind, Justice, and Morals which are the structure of building the community. He stated that this triple is essential in achieving the balance between Right and Obligation in the individual and institutional setting, in addition to transcending the joint humanitarian values.

The opening ceremony included a speech by Dr. Ahmed Salim Al Mandhari, Director General of Quality Assurance Center where he stated that the health system represented by the MOH launched on February last year the national document of patients’ rights & responsibilities which contains seven fields. Al Mandhari affirmed that the launching came with the purpose of framing the principles of patient rights and responsibilities; consequently creating a firm relationship between the patient and his/her family from one side and the health institution and the treating staff from another side.

Next, Dr. Samiah Al Rahbi outlined the National Document and the most important Items it contains in the different fields including access to the health services field, safety & security field, communication, participation in the treatment plan, privacy, respect & appreciation and suggestions & comment field. Dr. Al Rahbi further highlighted in her lecture the terminologies found in the Document and their definitions.

Afterwards the symposium that included three varied sessions commenced aiming at introducing the Patients’ rights and responsibilities and raising awareness on the Document, observing the challenges and the intended aspirations areas of patients’ rights and responsibilities, as well as updating policies and services to correlate with the implementation of the document.

The first session entitled the global and legislative view of patients’ rights and responsibilities, in which it addressed the Document in regard with Islam, local laws and legislations. It further touched upon the role of Public Prosecution in strengthening the rights and responsibilities of the patients.

The second session addressed the challenges and requirements of health system resulting from the implementations of the National Document in light of the available resources remarking mostly on the Primary Healthcare System as well as the Specialized Health care.

The last session draw attention to the promotion of services’ quality in light of the Document. The session introduced the basics regarding the submission and reviewing of complaints and notes. Additionally, it discussed the expected responses on the medics, patients, and community that follow the implementation of Document.