Consumer (Patient) Rights Expert
(KPK)

Pakistan has not been able to achieve the key health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). DFID Pakistan (DFIDP) therefore is focusing on reproductive, maternal, new-born and child health (RMNCH) including nutrition to support and enhance effective implementation of health sector strategies that will lead to achievement of the health MDGs. DFIDP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Pakistan on a/the Provincial Health and Nutrition Programme (PHNP) to achieve RMNCH and nutrition results in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces over four years (2013 to 2017). EVA is a four year project, primarily focussed on the ‘demand side’ of RMNCH services and will complement the ‘supply side’ activities under the broader PHNP framework through:

• Enhancing Communities’ understanding of their health rights, entitlements and engagement in monitoring the planning and delivery of services
• Organising communities at all levels to catalyse the precipitation of desired policy changes at the local, provincial and national level

Rationale

Citizens face issues while they seek care from health facilities. These issues may include denial of services, disrespect, abuse, overcharging, poor quality, violence, delays etc that fundamentally reflect the denial of the rights of patients while they seek health care. Such issues have also been pointed out by communities in different forums of voice raising that have been organized by EVA-BHN. These issues underscore the need for availability of a Patients’ Rights Charter that embodies the rights of patients and serves as a binding instrument for health facilities and health care providers that can be resorted to for accountability in the instances of violation of patients’ rights. Such Charter will need to evidence based, have consensus of the key stakeholders and reflective of the citizen demands and issues with respect to health care.

Health Care Commission (KP) is a key institution that has a mandate to regularize the health services provision in KP. Currently it is in its formative phase and has recently finalized its operational procedures. EVA and HCC teams have discussed the need for having a Patients’ Rights Charter for KP that can serve to safeguard the rights of patients while they seek health care services and have agreed to collaborate for developing the Patients’ Rights Charter. that will be one of the different instruments to be used by HCC while it embarks upon the efforts for regularizing the services delivery. It may be relevant to mention here that in Punjab, the counterpart Health Care Commission has already developed and implementing a Patients Rights’ Charter the learnings of which can be useful for KP HCC Patients’ Rights Charter as well. These TORs relate to the consultant that will develop the Patients’ Rights Charter for EVA and HCC KP.   

Objectives and Scope of Work:

The objective of the assignment is to institutionalize citizen demands in public sector efforts to standardize and regularize the health services delivery in KP. This will be achieved through developing a Patients’ Rights Charter for HCC KP. The key tasks to be undertake in this regard will include:

1. Literature Review: To identify the patients’ rights that need be included in the Patients’ Rights Charter through studying the barriers that patients face while they seek health care services, the national and international covenants that underpin the patient rights, the Patients’ Rights Charters or similar instruments that have been developed and implemented elsewhere in the country and other countries of context similar to Pakistan.
2. Hold a One Day Provincial consultation with key stakeholders: To present findings of the literature review, assess local needs and seek recommendations for the Patients’ Rights Charter. The key stake holders will include Health Care Providers, Civil Society, DoH, Right to Services Commission, Right to Information Commission, Lawyers, Professional Organizations such as SOGP, PMA, religious leaders, Ombudsman  Community representatives (male and female) from EVA forums i.e. CGs and DAFs and media. The methodology of the consultation should be participatory and more of a group work on a structured format.
3. Draft a Patients’ Rights Charter in the light of the literature review and consultation recommendations and present to a smaller group identified from the consultation participants.
4. Finalize the Patients’ Rights Charter (it may include translation from English to Urdu as well) in the light of the feedback on draft.

Deliverables:

• Literature review report and presentation
• Consultation report
• Patients’ Rights Charter 

The consultant will have to work in close collaboration with Health Care Commission KP.

Reports to:    Advocacy and Accountability Director

Duration of Assignment:

This is a 15 days assignment with the following breakdown of Level of Efforts: 

Eligibility:

• Masters or above in social sciences/public health/MBBS with experience in related tasks
• Demonstrated experience of working in consumer rights related assignment