Lok Sabha Question No. 1707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Charter of Patient’s Rights
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1707 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  FEBRUARY 2022

## CHARTER OF PATIENT'S RIGHTS

## 1707.  SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA & SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the necessary steps taken by the Government to implement the charter of patients rights as recommended by the National Human Rights commission;
- (b)    the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  all  States  and  Union  Territories  display patients' rights charter on their health department websites along with the number of States that have adopted the same after the letter that was shared by the MOHFW in 2019;
- (c)    the  number  of  hospitals  empanelled  under  the  Ayushman  Bharat  Scheme  that  are displaying the patients' rights charter including both public and private hospitals; and
- (d)  the budget allocations made for the promotion of patients' rights charter;
- (e)  the number of States that have set up the grievance redressal mechanism for patients as recommended by NHRC advisory; and
- (f)  the steps taken by the Government to ensure that all States and Union territories display patients  rights  charter  in  public  and  private  healthcare  facilities  as  well  as  on  health department website?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (f)  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  (MoHFW)  had  shared  the  Charter  of Patients' Rights recommended by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2019 with the Government of all States and Union Territories (UTs).  Health is a State subject. It is for the respective State/UT Government to adopt, implement and monitor the Charter of Patients' Rights.    Further,  it  is  also  for  the  respective  State/UT  Government  to  display  the  Patients' Rights Charter in public and private healthcare facilities as well as on their health department websites, allocate budget for promotion of Patients' Rights Charter, set up grievance redressal mechanism for patients as recommended by NHRC advisory.

National  Council  for  Clinical  Establishments  setup  under  the  Clinical  Establishments  Act, 2010 in MoHFW has, in the year 2021, further updated the aforesaid Patients' Rights Charter and included additional Patients' Rights and shared the same with the States and UTs, where the Clinical Establishments Act is applicable.  The updated charter is also available in public domain on the weblinkhttp://clinicalestablishments.gov.in/WriteReadData/3181.pdf. The implementation  of  the  provisions  of  the  aforesaid  Act  and  the  updated  Patients'  Rights Charter  is  within  the  remit  of  the  respective  State/UT  Government,  where  the  Act  is applicable.

As on 08.02.2022, Ayushman Bharat PradhanMantri - Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PM-JAY) is implemented  by  33  States/UTs.    A  pan-India  network  of  more  than  25000  hospitals  are empanelled under AB  PM-JAY  for providing healthcare services to the scheme's beneficiaries.

National Health Authority (NHA) which is mandated to implement the AB PM-JAY, drafted the Patients' Rights and Responsibilities Charter for hospital empanelled under this scheme. This was adopted from NHRC and international patient charters. Further, in May 2021, NHA issued  a  communication  to  various  State  Health  Agencies  (SHA)  to  ensure  observance  of Patients' Rights Charter across all empanelled hospitals and to display it at prominent areas in the hospital premises. It was also suggested that the Patients' Rights Charter booklet be made available with the Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra's kiosk for AB PM-JAY beneficiaries.

NHA releases funds to the SHAs to undertake various beneficiary empowerment activities including Information, Education and Communication (IEC). These funds are intended to be utilized by SHAs for above purpose.

****