Newly formed Civil Society Collaborative Forum to tackle human rights in health care

Twenty-four civil society organisations (CSOs) made their presence heard and felt at the first convening of the Civil Society Collaborative Forum (CSCF) last week, raising concerns about health rights issues, including stigma, discrimination, a more robust and effective complaints and redress system, and the rights of health-care providers.

The CSCF was hosted by the Partnership for the Promotion of Patients’ Rights in Maternal, Neonatal and Infant Health (MNIH), a European Union-funded project focusing on human rights in health care.

Noting that this coming together was the result of more than 16 months of on-the-ground meetings and awareness-raising among CSOs across the island, MNIH Advocacy Specialist Linnette Vassell said, “This first convening of the CSCF marks the creation of a space for dialogue and advocacy among Jamaican CSOs working within a human rights-based framework to address health issues facing specific communities.”

The forum saw CSOs being introduced to the MNIH Human Rights in Patient Care Training Manual, a tool produced under the MNIH project which will be used to raise awareness, first among CSOs, and then in their respective communities.

Summarising the observations of a listening group which comprised Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre Chairperson Lorna Lee and Education Officer Alysa Nebel, Public Defender Arlene Harrison-Henry, and Methodist Church Minister the Rev Claudette Campbell, Planning Institute of Jamaica Health Specialist Denese McFarlane noted the commonality of issues raised by the CSOs.

“What we’re hearing,” she said, “is that people want access to information about their health - whether it is their files, or information about their rights as patients.”

She continued: “There is concern about issues of informed consent, legislation addressing the right to health care, national health insurance - especially for mothers, decision-making for pregnant women, infant health, youth … privacy and confidentiality, customer service training, and communications.”

Among specific targets of the CSCF mentioned were the promotion of cooperation among CSOs addressing the health issues of particular groups; the promotion and strengthening of respectful partnership between civil society and the Ministry of Health and related bodies; discussions and inputs into health policy and for improving the health-care environment; and bringing the public into discussions, and the monitoring and improvement of health-care delivery.

The host project, MNIH, is jointly implemented by the University of the West Indies Department of Community Health & Psychiatry, and WROC.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.