Patients in Kosovo lack knowledge of their rights

In Kosovo, although patients are violated by their rights, many do not know that they are protected by law. And this violation makes health professionals repeat violations in absence of punishment. This has emerged according to a research done by the Association for Patients' Rights in Kosovo.

Besim Kodra, leader of this association, told Radio Free Europe that the Ministry of Health has never launched a conscious campaign to inform patients of their rights, as well as to increase transparency within public health institutions.

On the basis of some research that we've done, patients have very little knowledge of their rights that they have in public health institutions, so even within institutions not rarely violate patients' rights. There is also a big remark for the Ministry of Health that does not promote patients' rights through consciousness campaigns, protecting patients' rights and increasing transparency of public health institutions”.

We get constant complaints from patients in two offices that we have, but the punitive measures for the staff are low, and this does not improve the treatment of patients in public institutions, rather fills them up to repeat their violations”, Kodra said.

Citizens surveyed by Radio Free Europe about how much they know as patients for their rights, have found that they do not know and have not heard they have access to a certain address for rights violations.

Luljeta Sadiku, 24, who studies Economics at Pristina University, said he has not heard of the rights of patients protected by law.

I don't think patients' rights are respected, and because they're protected by law, I haven't heard. But considering the treatment often addressed to patients, I think quality services are below level. Maybe it's not just doctors' fault here, but it's also generally the missing system, with many gaps I think it makes patients feel uncomfortable”, Lullet said.

In the Ministry of Health, meanwhile, they said that in the first six months of this year, through the free line of citizens who have a complaint, they have accepted about 60 complaints of different natures. Lulzim Hoti, an information official at the ministry, gives more details:

The free line was established in 2013 and is free for citizens 24 hours. She accepts complaints and prosecutes them. During this year, in the first six months, we have prosecuted 60 complaints and 90 percent have already been prosecuted. Mainly, complaints have been about a lack of medical care at the workplace, then reference of patients in certain private areas, use of drugs without banners, and others”.

Although public health institutions are obliged by the Health Law to place patients' rights cards in hospital spaces, the latter appears not to have noticed them, given research on their rights.