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MEETINGS
WITH AUTHORITIES
Press
Release
About
the meeting of the representatives of the Albanian Helsinki
Committee with Mr. Leonard Solis , Minister for Health and some
other leaders of the Ministry of Health
Incited
by the numerous concerns of the chronically diseased patients the
Albanian Helsinki Committee arranged a monitoring mission in the
Oncology Hospital in Tirana, on January 23. 2004. In the meeting
with the medicals and patients we were informed that there were lots
of problems in this hospital related to health service, that
directly affected the patients rights and their health.
The
most acute problems observed and highlighted in this meeting were as
follows:
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No
access to free health service from a great number of
citizens
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Destruction
of the ray-unit for the cancer diseased (sometimes the cobalt
apparatus and this time the “orthovoltage” apparatus.
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Lack
of the citostatic medicines that hinder the growth of
cancer cells of the diseased
-
Non
disbursement of a part of treatments that are very expensive to
the diseased.
Furthermore,
in the meeting alongside the afore-mentioned problems, the Committee
on its part discussed about the violations of some rights.
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No
observance of the right to free access to medical care for
mother and child.
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No
access to medicines from the hospital, for the hospitalized
people
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Treatment
of the psychic diseased kept on the hospital prison
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Other
problems related to the professional ethics and access of abuse
with medicines
Albanian
Helsinki Committee appreciates the willingness and the seriousness
in arranging this meeting with Mr. Solis and other members of the
leading staff of the Ministry of Health and the fact that the
problems submitted by the committee were taken into consideration.
After
the submission of the problems and exchange of views it was
concluded that:
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The
Ministry of Health admitted the fact that a considerable number
of patients do not have access to free health care, due to the
non operation of a well-studied scheme on the part of the health
insurances and the cases of abusive acts.
-
Related
to the improvement of the service in the Oncology Hospital in
Tirana, it was identified the fact that soon there will be
considerable investments. Besides, the hospital will be equipped
with an additional modern apparatus accessing the ongoing
treatment of the patients.
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As
regards the lack of citostatic medicines, we were informed that
the problem will have a quick solution
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As
regards disbursement of the treatment for the diseased soon
there will be provisions drafted to the patients benefit.
-
As
AHC has identified during these years the legislation in the
field of health has experienced obvious changes, but the
enforcement of this legislation and the efficiency of the
existing structures to control the law enforcement and other
by-laws in the field of health as well as the observance of the
Medical Order are still acute problems. However, both parties
share the opinion that legislation needs some considerable
changes ins some aspects.
-
As
regards the mentally diseased in the hospital prison, the
promise was to reconsider this problem.
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Related
to the professional ethics and the observance of the patients
rights, the view expressed was that this problem deserves a
special treatment and continuous control and a better assessment
of the citizens complaints.
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Albanian
Helsinki Committee suggests: speeding up the adoption of
the patients rights charter, the draft of which has been
prepared and the functioning of a better scheme of the benefits
of the health insurances in hospitals.
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Albanian
Helsinki Committee will be sensitive in the future against
violations identified in the health sector especially in the
aspect of observance of the medical ethics and the timely and
efficient service offered to the patients, by paying attention
to the prevention of the abuses and violations. In this
direction special attention will be devoted to public awareness
and other activities for the improvement of legislation and a
better respect of the citizens rights.
Tiranë,
January 29. 2004
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