European Patients' Rights Day

European Patients' Rights Day will be marked today in all 27 EU countries with the main objective of raising awareness on the European Charter of Patients' Rights.

Another aim is to push the various actors involved in the national health care systems to discuss common strategies to improve the implementation of patients' rights.

Active Citizenship Network (ACN), which brings together 80 organisations from 30 European countries, in 2002 established a European Charter of Patients' Rights, which includes the following 14 rights: The right to preventive measures; access; information; consent; free choice; privacy and confidentiality; respect of patients' time; observance of quality standards; safety; innovation; avoidance of unnecessary suffering and pain; personalised treatment; to complain; to receive compensation.

In Malta, the Malta Health Network (MHN) will be launching the European Charger of Patients Rights during a seminar at the auditorium of Mater Dei Hospital on May 23.

For more information dial 2124 4123/9987 3213, or go to mrc.org.mt/page.asp?p=7117&l=1 or mhnadmin@gmail.com.