People’s Advocate considers that the World Health Day of this year referring to universal covering of healthcare services and crucial role of family doctor is very common for our country. This happens due to the fact that in the Republic of Moldova for the time being, not all the persons benefit of healthcare services they need and with no type of discrimination.
This is not only the Ombudsman’s opinion, but also the perception of population on access to healthcare services, based to sociological researches made by People’s Advocate Office in 2016 and 2018. According to the soundings realized upon Ombudsman Institution request [1], the right to health is the most violated right in the Republic of Moldova. In 2016 year this view point was supported by 61% of respondents, and in 2018 – by 71.6% of participants to research.
Starting from the findings of researches on population perceptions, but also based on monitoring of situation on observance of the right to health, referrals to ombudsmen, People’s Advocate Office included the field of the right to health promotion through the priorities of the institution activity. In 2016 People’s Advocate realized a research on the quality of services provided by Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Care, the conclusions and recommendations made by the Ombudsman contributing to boost of modernization process for this service during 2018 year [2].
In 2017, People’s Advocate took a notice ex officio in case of N.B. who deceased due to the fact that he didn’t benefit of the necessary medical care on time and full volume. After a detailed investigation [3]People’s Advocate found that in this case there were admitted numerous violations of the right of patient on different stages of request for the necessary medical care: of the right to correct informing, access to health services, respect for the patient time, avoidance of non-justified suffering and pain, failure to respect the quality standards.
In the last years, in the attention of People’s Advocate were several cases of serious prejudice of health condition of patients, due to the improper equipment of hospitals, reason for which the Ombudsman has realized a Report on this subject which will be made public within the event planned for April 10 of this year, at Regency hotel which will begin at 10.00 AM.
In this Report it is identified the fact that the technological potential of medical devices of the public medical-sanitary institutions is exceeded from the moral and physical view point, with major deficiencies, fact which widely determines the quality of medical act. A lot of equipment of the diagnostics sections and surgical sections are with the exceeded wear degree and with no metrological verification. Some devices of medical institutions have a use length of about 40 years, reason for which they cannot be safe or they can be dangerous for patients and doctors. In the Report there are made several recommendations for competent authorities in order to ameliorate the situation in this field.
Different problems related to observance of the right to health were constantly approached in the annual reports of Ombudsman, especially referring to failure to respect the condition for getting the patient informed consent; professional ethics by doctors; lack of patient correct informing; faulty communication between the doctor and patient; lack of discretion while providing medical assistance (confidentiality); limited access to specialized treatment; low quality of medical services; limited access to providing expensive treatments; lack of legal framework on malpractice etc.
People’s Advocate for children’s rights has approached especially the problems related to immunization of children, medical assistance in cases of preemies.
With the occasion of World Health Day, People’s Advocate emphasizes the importance which the health has for the life of each person and society. The good health condition is a primordial condition for achieving an increased degree of life quality and welfare of person. The health condition constitutes the most important value and indispensable element of development and prosperous social. That is why the state has the obligation to ensure the observance of right to the highest standard of health which refers to the fact that all the health services should be: available, accessible, acceptable and qualitative, states People’s Advocate.
[1]Studiile de percepții ale populației privind respectarea drepturilor omului în Republica Moldova (http://ombudsman.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Perceptii-DO_Romana-1.pdf
http://ombudsman.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ro-raport_do_final_pentru_tipar_1.pdf)
[2]http://ombudsman.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/raport_respectarea_drepturilor_2016_site_1_0.pdf
[3]http://ombudsman.md/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/raport_special_bulat_pdf.pdf
