All patient with Covid -19 and non Covid conditions and all patients and caregivers have the right to information, including daily updates and about investigations, treatment and likely complications, said a new advisory issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Sent to all states and Union territories, the advisory on Right to Health in the Covid-19 context maintained the states to ensure prompt and free initiation of the treatment process without demanding advance payment, irrespective of paying capacity.
Amid the Covid19 outbreak putting enormous strain on the public health system in the country, the NHRC advisory prohibited the public release of patient details.
The advisory is based on the recommendations by a committee of experts, including representatives from the civil society organizations, independent domain experts, and the representatives from the concerned Ministries/ Departments.
The committee was tasked to assess the impact of the pandemic on realization of the rights of the people, especially the marginalised and vulnerable sections of the population which have been disproportionately impacted.
All Covid-19 patients who approach public health facilities should be treated free of cost, Jaideep Govind, secretary general said in a letter accompanying the advisory. The secretary general has asked all states and union territories to implement the recommendations and submit an action-taken report (ATR) plan.
The advisory has called for maintaining highest human dignity and prioritising while dealing with Covid-19 patients, elderly persons, LGBTQI, sex workers, physically challenged people.
All the State governments may operate 24×7 centralised call centre, linked with nodal persons designated in each district for helping the patients and care givers, and also providing the information on the availability of beds, the advisory said.
All patients and persons seeking healthcare facilities have the right to be treated must be treated in non-discriminatory manner, free from any prejudice related to caste, religion, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, linguistics, geographical or social origins, the advisory said.
Pre and post testing counselling may be provided to patients affected with Covid-19 by a mental health professional to deal with several issues including fear, apprehensions, anxiety etc.
According to advisory, civic bodies, state and union territory governments may consider sharing Covid-19 test results online in a confidential manner, whereby patients can check their status through confidential test ID cards provided only to them. The advisory also states, participants in clinical trials and experiments should be informed that they can withdraw at any stage.
The Commission’s advisory maintained periodic payment of salaries to healthcare workers engaged both in public and private sectors who are engaged in Covid -19 related work may be assured of defined and humane working hours, predictably functioning reliever roosters and scheduled off-duty days.
The Commission issued the advisories on following human rights issues: Human Rights Advisory for Protection of the Rights of Children in the context of COVID-19, Human Rights Advisory on Rights to Food Security and Nutrition in context of COVID-19, Human Rights Advisory on Rights of Persons with Disability in context of COVID-19, Human Rights Advisory on Rights to Health in context of COVID-19.
