Kano- The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring fairness as well as preventing the exploitation of consumers.
Speaking shortly after a town hall in Kano, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera,said that the engagement was organized to educate patients and other health care consumers on their rights.
“Our primary role is to ensure that service providers give better services to consumers as well as prevent exploitation of consumers,” he said.
Represented by the Commission’s Executive Commissioner, Operations, Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, explained that the meeting would equip them with the required knowledge on how to channel their grievances.
According to him, the engagement will also educate the stakeholders and pay more attention to their rights, demand and insist on better services.
“Yesterday we train doctors and nurses on the nitty-gritty of the Patients Bill of Right (PBoR) for them to acknowledge their obligations and the rights of patients while carrying out their duties.
“Today we are also engaging service receivers to enlighten them on how to demand their rights, channel complain and better relationship with with service providers,” he said.
The FCCPC boss who expressed his delight at the attendance of the two-day event called on consumers to always demand for better services.
Earlier, a consultant, Mr Folami Onirinwa, explained that patients right include , right to information Ina language and manner the patient understands.
He urged healthcare service providers in the country to intensify efforts in protecting patients’ rights in their facilities.
Onirinwa added that PBoR would foster a relationship of trust between healthcare providers and patients.
The consultant then urged the participants to pay attention to the training and share the knowledge with others.
Some of the participants who spoke to our correspondent lauded FCCPC for organizing the training and promised to share the knowledge with others.
The rights included right to information in a language and manner the patient understand, and right to timely access to detailed and accurate medical records and available services.
Others are: right to transparent billing and full disclosure of costs, right to be treated with respect, regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity or allegations of crime.
There is also right to clean, safe and secured healthcare environment, right to complain and express dissatisfaction regarding services received, among others.
