Sunyani: The Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), a media advocacy and human rights Non-Governmental Organisation, has urged the government to ensure that public health facilities adhere to the Patient Charter of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

According to Ghana News Agency, the advice followed threats reportedly made by Dr David Tenkorang, the Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) against journalists, describing those threats as reckless and shameful. GloMeF emphasized that strict enforcement of the patient charter would address the growing abuse of patients' fundamental human rights and dignity in public health facilities, thereby improving healthcare delivery in the country.

The Patient Charter defends rights to quality healthcare, informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality, and outlines patients' responsibilities to provide accurate medical information, comply with treatments, and respect other patients and health workers. In a statement issued and signed by Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Chief Executive Officer of GloMeF, the organization expressed concern over the increasing abuse of patients' rights at public health facilities.

GloMeF highlighted that 'nurses and doctors increasingly insult patients, abuse them, and trample on the Patients' Charter with impunity, acting as though patients owe them a favor, despite their salaries being funded by taxpayers'. The statement, shared with the Ghana News Agency, stressed that the GHS Patient Charter is a binding code of conduct that must be upheld by all healthcare professionals.

The organization also called for governmental intervention to protect the rights of journalists and patients from intimidation in public health facilities. GloMeF urged civil society, human rights organizations, and the media to take a stand against the abuse of patients' rights, declaring: 'We will not remain silent as health facilities become unsafe for the very people they exist to serve'.