HEFAMAA to Patients: Demand respect, know your rights at hospitals

The Lagos State Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) has called on residents to be more assertive in exercising their rights when accessing healthcare services across the state.

Speaking during a Sensitisation Campaign and Town Hall Meeting on “The Roles and Responsibilities of HEFAMAA in Lagos State” held at the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of HEFAMAA, Dr. Abiola Idowu, represented by Mrs Oladunni Omonike Olutola, Deputy Director of Health Education, said patients have the right to ask questions and demand respectful treatment from healthcare providers.

“Clients and patients have every right to ask questions. It is your individual right to know about the treatment you are receiving, the drugs being administered, and the direction of your care,” Idowu stated.

“Nobody should trample on your rights. We are in the 21st century, every individual has a right to be treated with dignity,” she added.

She encouraged residents not to tolerate disrespect or intimidation in healthcare settings.

“If anyone shouts at you, politely correct them. Tell them, ‘Please don’t shout at me, I’m here to obtain treatment.’ When you know your rights, people will respect you,” she said.

Idowu further explained that government facilities exist primarily to serve the public, emphasising that health workers are employed to meet the needs of patients.

“If patients stop going to these facilities, doctors and nurses will have no work to do. It is because of you that they are there, so you must be respected. Demand for your respect, it is your right,” she added.

The HEFAMAA boss also noted that the Lagos State Government continued to invest heavily in the health sector to ensure quality service delivery.

However, she acknowledged that some health workers still fall short of expected standards despite continuous training.

“When government recruits doctors and nurses, we train them for three to six months on proper conduct and patient relations,” she explained.

“But people have individual differences. Some forget everything once they get the job. That is why we constantly remind them that their attitude matters, a good attitude attracts patients, while a bad one drives them away.”

Idowu reiterated that HEFAMAA remained committed to promoting accountability, professionalism, and respect within health facilities across Lagos State, urging residents to take full advantage of the state’s health services without fear of mistreatment.

Also speaking at the meeting, Mr. Richard Olusanya, Chief Nutrition Officer at HEFAMAA, traced the agency’s origins to its establishment in 2006, with a clear mandate to regulate and monitor hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, and other health facilities across Lagos State.

“HEFAMAA sets standards in key areas such as equipment, personnel, and environment. If you are running a hospital, the person in charge must be a qualified medical doctor or nurse. We don’t want one person treating eyes, teeth, and every other ailment. That’s how people fall victim to quackery,” he explained.

Olusanya stressed that only qualified and properly equipped facilities are granted operating certificates, adding that the agency conducts biannual inspections to ensure compliance with established standards.

He also dispelled common misconceptions about health centres, clarifying that clinics are not designed to operate round the clock, unlike hospitals.

Olusanya urged all public and private health facilities to display their registration certificates prominently to assure clients of their legitimacy.

Speaking on HEFAMAA’s QR code verification system, he said, “Once you scan the code, you can see the facility’s name, address, and owner. You can also send your feedback-positive or negative-directly to HEFAMAA. We want people to take this information back to their communities, markets, and associations to promote safe healthcare practices.”