All patients, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, cultural belief, or handicap are equally entitled to receive health services to promote and maintain good health. Whether the services are being offered through the public, private or NGO sector, every patient has certain rights which cannot be taken away:

Right to Care

a. You have the right to receive care when you need it.

b. You have the right to the best quality care available, including preventive, curative, promotive, and rehabilitative care.

c. You have the right to a full continuum of care including referral when needed.

Right to Privacy

a. You have the right to be consulted in a private space free from being seen or overheard by others.

b. You have the right for all information about your medical condition to be kept confidential within the limits of the law.

Right to Information

a. You have the right to know who is treating you and what their qualifications are.

b. You have the right to information on your condition, the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, risks and alternatives.

c. You have the right to know the names of the drugs prescribed, their actions and side-effects.

Right to Choices

a. You have the right to participate in decision-making about your care, treatment, and medications and provide informed consent to care.

b. You have the right to refuse any care, treatment, and medications and to be informed about the consequences of doing so.

c.You have the right to a second opinion

d. You have the right to choose whether to take part in research programs

Right to Respect

a. You have the right to be treated with respect and for your personal views, religious, and cultural beliefs to be respected by all health care workers.

b. You have the right to be free of discrimination, harassment or any risk to your personal safety

c. You have the right to receive care in a language you can understand

Right to Complain

a. You have the right to complain about any aspect of your care and treatment without fear of recrimination

b. You have the right to receive prompt action on your complaints and a report back on actions taken.

With these rights come important responsibilities of the patient to ensure that the health system is able to deliver on these rights:

Responsibilities of the Patient:

a. You are responsible for taking care of your own health

b. You are responsible to access and use the health system properly and not abuse it

c. You are responsible for respecting the rights of health providers and other patients

d. You are responsible to provide health care providers with relevant accurate information about your health condition

e. You are responsible to follow all instructions and adhere to treatments prescribed

f. You are responsible for ensuring that you have the means to pay for all services delivered.