The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia places great importance on the health of its citizens and strives to provide the best health services through various health facilities. One of these distinguished services is “home health care.”
This service aims to improve the quality of life for patients and provide comfort for them and their families, complementing the healthcare provided in hospitals and medical centers.
To ensure that patients receive dignified healthcare that respects their rights and meets their needs, the Saudi Ministry of Health has established a set of rules and regulations to organize the work of home health care and define the rights of patients benefiting from this service.
Basic Rights Ensuring a Safe Recovery Journey:
First: Receiving Appropriate Health Care:
- Respect for the Patient and Their Family: Patients should be treated with respect and consideration for their religious principles, customs, and traditions, adhering to the highest medical and ethical standards.
- Personalized Health Care: Health services should be tailored to the patient’s condition, considering their medical, nursing, and therapeutic needs.
- Kind Treatment: Patients have the right to be treated kindly by all health care providers, taking into account their emotional and psychological needs.
Second: Understanding the Treatment Plan and Medical Staff:
- Explanation of the Treatment Plan: The physician should clearly and understandably explain the treatment plan, discussing available alternatives and any potential complications or risks.
- Identifying the Medical Team: Patients have the right to know the names, titles, specialties, and contact information of the medical team members.
Third: Maintaining Privacy and Confidentiality:
- Respecting Privacy: Patient privacy and dignity must be respected, and no personal or medical information should be disclosed without consent.
- Confidentiality of Information: Health care providers are prohibited from sharing patient information with unauthorized persons or using it for non-medical purposes.
- Prohibition of Photography: Patients should not be photographed or have any medical procedures shared without prior consent.
Fourth: Facilitating Communication and Participation:
- Effective Communication: Easy communication channels should be provided for patients and their families to obtain complete and updated information about their health and any medical reports.
- Respecting Opinions: Patients have the right to express their needs and concerns and to have their opinions and preferences regarding their health care respected.
- Education and Guidance: Educational programs should be provided for patients and their families about their health condition and how to manage it.
- Essential Information: Patients should receive adequate information about medications, treatments, medical exercises, and appropriate dietary plans.
Fifth: Ensuring Safety and Security:
- Safe Environment: A safe and healthy environment must be provided for the patient at home, with all necessary precautions to prevent accidents or injuries.
- Preventive Care: Care providers should follow preventive measures.
Sixth: Service Evaluation and Complaints:
- Service Evaluation: Recipients of home health care services have the right to evaluate the services provided and their satisfaction with them.
- Right to File Complaints: If a patient experiences any violations of their rights or deficiencies in the provided services, they have the right to file a complaint for investigation and necessary action.
In Conclusion:
Home health care is an ideal option for many patients, providing them with a comfortable and safe environment for recovery and helping them return to their normal lives more quickly.
To ensure that patients receive high-quality health care that respects their rights and meets their needs, these standards have been established to regulate home health care and define the rights of patients benefiting from this service.
Knowing these rights helps patients advocate for themselves and ensures they receive dignified care that effectively contributes to their recovery journey.
