Medical for Quality Healthcare in Zambia (MQHZ) has called for immediate and decisive action to strengthen accountability in the protection of patient rights and dignity across the country’s healthcare system.
MQHZ Director General Dr. Quince Mwabu said patients seeking healthcare services deserve not only treatment, but also respect, clear information, privacy and assurance that their concerns will be heard and addressed.
In a statement, Dr. Mwabu said patient rights are a fundamental component of quality and safe healthcare delivery. “Patients who seek healthcare services deserve not only treatment, but also respect, clear information, privacy, and assurance that their concerns will be heard and addressed,” Dr. Mwabu added.
He stated that a healthcare system cannot achieve meaningful improvement if patients are not treated with dignity, involved in decisions concerning their care, informed about their conditions and treatment options, and assured that their personal health information is protected.
Dr. Mwabu acknowledged efforts by Government, health institutions, professional regulatory bodies and other stakeholders to promote patient-centred care, strengthen accountability and improve responsiveness within health facilities.
He, however, said gaps continue to exist between policy commitments and the experiences of some patients accessing healthcare services.
According to Dr. Mwabu, inadequate communication between healthcare providers and patients, limited explanations of diagnoses and treatment options, concerns over privacy and confidentiality, insufficient patient involvement in care decisions and weaknesses in complaint-handling systems continue to affect patient confidence and experience.
“MQHZ wishes to emphasize that patient experience is not merely a matter of satisfaction; it is a critical measure of healthcare quality and patient safety. When patients are not adequately informed, when their concerns are not addressed, or when their dignity is compromised, trust in the healthcare system is weakened,” he said.
He also recognized the dedication and sacrifice of healthcare workers who continue to provide essential services under challenging conditions, but said protecting patient rights requires collective responsibility from health leadership, facility managers, regulators, professional bodies and healthcare workers.
Dr. Mwabu called on the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of patient rights standards across all healthcare facilities.
He further urged health institutions to maintain functional and accessible patient feedback and complaints mechanisms and strengthen healthcare worker training in communication, ethics, confidentiality, informed consent and respectful care.
Dr. Mwabu also called for patient experience data to be regularly collected and used to improve healthcare delivery.
He said protecting patient dignity is not only an ethical responsibility but also a reflection of the quality, professionalism and accountability of the healthcare system.
“Patient rights must not remain limited to policies and guidelines; they must be visible in every consultation room, every ward, every clinic, and every interaction between healthcare providers and the people they serve,” Dr. Mwabu added.
Dr. Mwabu reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advocating for a healthcare system where quality care is defined not only by clinical outcomes, but also by the safety, dignity and experience of every patient.
