The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is urging state governments and healthcare providers to adopt and implement the Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) to enhance consumer confidence in healthcare services.
Morayo Adisa, the FCCPC Technical Assistance to the Executive Vice Chairman, made this appeal during a healthcare provider training event organized by Ace in collaboration with the FCCPC. The program, titled ‘Strengthening Patient-centered Care: A Health Care Provider Training,’ took place in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Adisa emphasized the importance of the PBoR, which was established by the FCCPC in 2018 to simplify and make patients’ rights more accessible. She highlighted that despite the passage of the National Health Act in 2014, there is room for improvement in its implementation.
Adisa stated, “Grassroots level engagement is very important because if people don’t know their rights, they won’t be able to assert or enforce them or seek help when their rights are violated.”
She further explained that the FCCPC’s strategy involves educating consumers and healthcare providers at the grassroots level. As part of this effort, over 20 healthcare facilities have already adopted and implemented the PBoR.
The adoption and domestication of the Patients’ Bill of Rights aim to empower patients with a clear understanding of their rights in healthcare settings, ultimately improving the quality of healthcare services and boosting consumer confidence.