Patients’ rights must and must be protected throughout their journey in the Health Care System. A key role in their observance is played by Offices for the Protection of the Rights of Health Service Recipients which need to be institutionally upgraded, thus becoming points of contact for the Citizen with the hospitals and bodies for his participation in the evaluation of the services provided and quality assurance.
That was her central message first informational event her Greek Patient Association in the HERACLION, Cretein co-organization with the 7the Ministry of Health and the Medical Association of Heraklion on the occasion of European Patients’ Rights Dayon Wednesday April 24, 2024 in the Kastellaki Hall of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Heraklion.
Welcoming the attendees, First Vice-President of the Hellenic Patients’ Association Katerina Koutsoyianni briefly presented the footprint of the Union, with an emphasis on the 14 rights of patients that must be respected as they are a matter of democracy in health, presenting an informative video in simple and understandable language.
The co-organizers also addressed a greeting. THE Commander of the 7th Health Region Nektarios Papavasileioucharacteristically stated that “We are happy that for the first time we are hosting in our Crete, in Heraklion, the Hellenic Patients’ Association. We have already started our cooperation and have laid the foundations for many things. We are happy that concepts such as innovation, traffic and the right of access to E.S.Y. they sound stronger and gain exceptional weight in the Greek space». In turn, Mr General Secretary of the Medical Association of Heraklion Nikos Lathourakis, referred to this year’s celebration of World Health Day and specifically to the use of “My Health, My Right” by P.O.Y. He emphasized how important it is for the citizen to know his rights to care and called on the State to respect the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the patient to Health. As ISI, he called on the State to support the E.S.Y., and to ensure the rights of every Greek patient as a European citizen.
The spirit of the rest of the greetings with their chosen guests was similar His Eminence Father Cyril of the Holy Archdiocese of Crete, Representative of the Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis Charalambos Fragiadakis, Deputy Regional Governor in the field of Social Policy and Solidarity of the Region of Crete Styliano Borgia, Professor of Pulmonology at the University of Crete Sofia Schizaand Governor of Pa. GNI Georgios Chalkiadakis.
Brief introductions followed. In a paper entitled “Presentation of Rights with Emphasis on the Role of Offices” the Maria Efstratiou, Deputy General Secretary of the Hellenic Patients’ Association, argued for the need to immediately improve the operation of rights offices, as the basic compass of patients in the health system. At the same time, showing short videos of the Hellenic Patients’ Association in which each right is described in simple language, he focused on the importance of patient and general population literacy around rights.
In a paper entitled “Office Operation Today / Statistics and Patient Satisfaction Rate“, The Deputy Governor Stylianos Kteniadakis emphasized the role and responsibilities of the rights office. He then quoted statistics, based on which Pa.GNI recorded an increase in complaints in 2021, mainly stemming from non-compliance with the use of masks and the presentation of vaccination certificates. At the same time, actions are implemented at a central level by the Ministry of Health, with the main one being the uniform complaint form for all hospitals so that there is a central record of complaints for the benefit of the citizens.
In a paper entitled “The Value of Service User Evaluation of Health Services“, The Professor of General Medicine and Primary Health Care, University of Crete and Member of the Scientific Committee of the Hellenic Patients’ Association Christos Lionis stated that in order to assess performance, we must first agree on selected terms based on WHO principles, such as Primary Health Care and Primary Care, while seeking acceptance of a unified model of care. We need to consider an expanded definition of health, but also what our patients are asking for. On the other hand, health professionals must also be trained, in order to guide patients and know what they are looking for. This focus on the literacy of patients and healthcare professionals is an ongoing social investment.
This was followed by the last presentation entitled “The Legal Securing of the Hospital Patient’s Rights” from the Attorney at Areio Pago, Head of EMS 7th Ministry of Health of Patras Emm. Pateraki, which spoke about the rights of hospital patients. Based on Article 21 of the Constitution, the state takes care of the Health of the Citizens while the Code of Medical Ethics defines the obligations of doctors which, among other things, is to respect the rights of patients. The right to care includes proper living conditions and proper treatment by staff under the supervision of the Administration.
The administration of the hospital must create the necessary conditions for the patients to be able to fulfill their obligations. The doctor does not undertake the obligation of a cure, but the obligation of full and continuous medical assistance. Overall, it addressed issues of information and consent, issues of futile treatment and issues of active and passive euthanasia, and living wills.
