Health services ‘do not respect’ patients’ rights

MIX-UPS with lab tests, bad behaviour by doctors toward their patients and lack of medical equipment are some of the many problems highlighted in the Ombudswoman’s latest report on the state of health care.
The Ombudswoman’s report even documents instances where doctors argued among themselves about the course of action over a hapless patient’s hospital bed.
Presenting her findings yesterday to the House Health Committee, Iliana Nicolaou said the majority of complaints made to her office concerned the poor quality of health care.
“That is why we insist, in order that these matters can be dealt with immediately…But I am sad to say that, for the time being, such an immediate response is not forthcoming from the Ministry of Health,” Nicolaou told newsmen later.
In her briefing to parliament, the Ombudswoman cited, among other things, cases of outright medical negligence, insufficient information given to patients even when they are about to undergo serious operations, doctors’ insufficient explanation of their diagnoses to patients, and lack of coordination between hospitals.
In addition to poor respect for patient’s rights, files often get misplaced, while doctors often fail to keep track of patients sent abroad for treatment.
Emergency operations, such as transplants, are often delayed due to excessive red tape. Special mention was made of the ultrasound machine at the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Clinic of the Makarios Hospital. The machine is not operating at 100 per cent, so that its readouts cannot be considered entirely safe for pregnant women. The problem has been documented since 2004, but a replacement machine has yet to be purchased.
Nicolaou noted also the poor management of Cyprus’ blood banks, which has attracted unwanted attention from the European Union, as well delays in processing patients due to the incomplete implementation of computerization.

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