Patient advocate role to boost transparency on health sector problems

The Federation of Patient Associations (Osak) on Friday welcomed the creation of a patient advocate, stating that it would significantly address complaints within the health sector.

Osak chairman Pambos Charalambous told CNA that they are still awaiting the final draft of the bill, as it needs to pass through parliament and be voted into law.

He added they have been championing this role since 2015. Nonetheless, cabinet’s decision a day earlier to create a patient advocate “now institutionally contributes to patient benefits.”

The patient advocate will be responsible for addressing complaints, improving efficiency and resolving any issues affecting patients, including shortages of supplies or instances of exploitation, Charalambous explained.

The role of patient advocate will also have the right to publicly disclose to the press any problems that exist. For example, no other role could publish the findings of investigations on specific hospitals after complaints.

Now, however, the patient advocate will be able to publish the findings on their website. That way, this will offer more transparency and if it becomes evident that a particular hospital is frequently non-compliant, the Patient Advocate can propose it is struck off from official lists.       

Charalmbous specified that professionals should do their part to contribute, so that the system works as well as possible.

“Right now, a mechanism is being put in place institutionally, which will be able to solve all these problems linked to the functionality of the [health] system.”