Malawi govt moves in to stop picture taking inside hospital wards
Government has threatened action against medical personnel in public hospitals who take or allow people to take pictures of patients inside wards.
In a letter issued on September 25 2019, secretary for Health and Population Dan Namarika says the ministry has noted with concern the rising number of unauthorized and unguided taking of photographs of patients in hospital facilities by the so called ‘well-wishers’ who come to make donations or visit the unsuspecting patients.
Namarika says the health profession is guided by standards and ethical principles which mainly aim at protecting the interests and dignity of patients and clients who seek assistance from the service.
“In fact, health professionals take oath or creed that guides the conduct of the service. Therefore, all managers of all facilities are required to maintain the privacy and dignity of our patients,” says Namarika.
He also advises people to ensure that they too protect the dignity and interests of the patients they go to cheer.
“The ministry of Health and Population through its regulatory bodies, will not hesitate to take action where privacy and dignity of patients is compromised. All managers are therefore required to protect our patients from exploitation,” says Namarika.
The letter has been released when some people have been posting in various social media platforms graphic pictures of rights activist Billy Mayaya on hospital bed after he was hacked by suspected ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) during a botched anti-Jane Ansah protest on Wednesday in Blantyre.
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Is this coming because of Billy picture???
Chavuta kumalawi kuno ndi kuderela wayambitsa zosezi ndi chilima ndi agaru azake chakwera ndi mtambo
Well said ,, ife takanizidwapo ku south Africa ku OR tambo hospital kutenga ma picture patient so what about here in Malawi,, privacy of patient is needed unless otherwise
While I agree that dignity and privacy of patients in all hospitals need to be safeguarded the onus is also on the hospital managements to balance up with the other equally important need to inform the public about what’s happening in the hospitals whether good or bad. The directive while seemingly good for safeguarding the rights of patients it may also serve to hide a lot of dirt happening in the hospitals. In the final say it’s up to each individual patient as the recent case of Mr Mayaya to consent on whether his photo should be taken in the… Read more »
Ha ha ha ha ha ha we are living in the digital generation everything must be exposed no secret under this generation kkkkkk anchito za mu ndima nose muri madzi
kunotu kulibe ma standards in whatsoever. nanji mu zipatalamu hedee bola kupita mocedwa, kukangozungulila kumabwerako monthend kulandila fullstop. cae namalika zoona palibe apa koma k7nena for the sake of kunena.fullstop
a mpilu, palibe chomwe ndikumvapo apa!!