The Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has expressed concern at recent reports of verbal and physical violence involving healthcare service beneficiaries and health practitioners at Kalene Mission Hospital in Ikelenge District of North-western Province.
HPCZ Senior Public Relations officer Terry Musonda said the council regrets to learn that health services were temporarily disrupted at the mission hospital following death of a patient whose family accused a doctor of negligence, causing the community in Ikelenge District to rise against the named doctor and staff at the health facility.
He said HPCZ, working with other authorities is investigating the matter, putting into consideration both the alleged negligent behaviour and the violence against health personnel by the community.
“It must be noted that all patients have rights as well as responsibilities when they visit health facilities and that all health practitioners equally enjoy certain rights which must be respected at all times,” He said.
“Among the responsibilities of a patient are to respect health practitioners and desist from any form of physical or verbal abuse against health practitioners. In the same manner, health practitioners are expected to be professional and abide by the Code of Ethics and other guidelines within their practice,” He noted.
HPCZ has since urge members of the public and health practitioners to adhere to the Patients’ Rights Charter and National Healthcare Standards to ensure quality in healthcare.
