Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Malta in poor health on patients' rights
Malta ranks among the "poor performers" in Europe when it comes to patients' rights to healthcare services, despite the building of a state-of-the-art hospital.
Maltese patients still do not have proper rights when it comes to their health, according to the results of the 2009 Euro Health Consumer Index, compiled by the Swedish-based research agency Health Consumer Powerhouse.
The results published yesterday placed Malta 23rd out of 31 European countries analysed. In view of this, the agency called on Maltese authorities to introduce, without further delay, a proper patient's rights law that would ensure patients needing care had access to their own medical records.
The study shows Malta has not moved positions compared to last year's index. Denmark topped the league table, although it still received a rap on the knuckles for its lack of cross-border care. Germany ranked second, followed by Switzerland.
The report groups 18 indicators of patient's empowerment into four categories: patients' rights, information, health technology assessment and financial incentives.
Each sub-discipline is weighted for importance to provide the overall score of a maximum 1,000 points. In this year's report, Malta scored 539 points. The best performer, Denmark scored 777 points while the worst, Bulgaria, scored 473.
Among the few good points highlighted in Malta's favour was the right to choose among health providers and the right to a second opinion.
However, Malta was given a poor grade in 11 out of the 18 rated indicators, including that of patients not having a right to view their own medical records, a lack of healthcare law based on patients' rights, no direct access to specialists and no fault malpractice insurance.
According to the agency, Malta needs to step up the participation of patients or patients' organisations in healthcare decision-making. It pointed out that policy makers in the top-ranked countries seemed to have realised that the healthcare system was for patients.
"Good healthcare is dependent on the active participation of the patients and the systems adopted in the top-ranking countries work to involve patients, offering financial incentives, power over information and patient rights leading to active choices," it said.
The report found that the right to a second opinion was non-existent in several European countries, while the right of a patient to access his own medical record was limited in many countries.
On waiting lists, a headache for Maltese authorities, the report said access to services within a reasonable time was still far from guaranteed, despite investments by many countries.
Agency president Johan Hjertqvist said choice within healthcare was still far from what citizens and users expected.
6 Comments
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Horrie Grech
Apr 1st 2009, 23:25
It doesn't matter how many patients ask to see their medical records each year, the point is "to have the basic right to see them." And if a patient doesn't understand what the records are saying well then they should ask and have it explained to them in a way that they can understand. In Australia, U.S.A. and U.K. consumers (patients) are employed in paid positions to work for health service providers as peer workers, consumer consultants, respite workers within the government and N.G.O. sector. I know because that is what I do.
J Martinelli
Apr 1st 2009, 17:53
Statistics, more statistics and yet more of the same. Not too long ago malta ranked 5th in the WORLD for delivering the best bang for the euro and now it is given a 'poor' grade when it comes to patients' rights to view their medical records! Now, may I ask: 1. How many patients (out of thousands treated each year) ask to see their medical records. 2. How many would even understand what the records are all about. Based on the number of requests by knowledgeable patients who ask to review their records, let one more statistic be published and which will reveal that Malta ranks equal if not better than other European countries.
David Galea
Apr 1st 2009, 14:44
no disrespect to Dr Micallef Stafrace or Dr Portelli, but saying that they need to be elected simply on the basis of this single (though however complex) issue is ludicrous.
Is this the only issue they will be required to act upon on the coming years of service if they do get elected or is it one of hundreds, or maybe thousands?!
I would assume that most of the other MEP candidates, which at some stage in their lives have been, or will be (hopefully as little as possible) patients, with appropriate advice from professionals etc., which a piece of legislation like this is sure to have, should be able to do an equally good job.
By your same argument one could counter-argue that since issue requires the enactment of legislation we should only elect the lawyers amongst the MEP candidates ... that would be wrong!
Charles Muscat
Apr 1st 2009, 14:09
The last time I visited beautiful Malta I did not come across anyone who knows what colonoscopy is. The answer to this was " My doctor never told me to do so" Although I am over 50 years old my doctor where I live get me to check it every year even though thank God I am OK. because we do not know what lies around the corner. Do not listen to your doctor go and do check ups regularly. Your doctor does not know what is happining inside you.
A Grech
Apr 1st 2009, 12:20
@ E. Zammit
You hit the nail on the head Mr. Zammit. Candidates with experience in the field can best represent our national interest. I stand to be corrected but my concern in this case is that Dr. Portelli has conflict of interest with patient waiting list because he has his own private medical service. In contrast Dr. Micallef Stafrace has no conflict of interest.
E Zammit
Apr 1st 2009, 11:51
What a shame!!
Isnt it useless to have a state-of-the-art hospital and poor patient rights? Isnt it useless to have one of the top hosptials in Europe when we have such long waiting lists?
Hence we need dedicate MEPs like Dr Kirill Micallef Strafrace and Portelli who have great expertise in this sector.