Ten medical workers at Kabgayi hospital in the Southern province were recently suspended over professional negligence. The suspended health professionals are currently being investigated by the Medical Council. It is alleged that the suspension, among other reasons, was due to the fact that some of the affected medical workers had wrongly prescribed medicine to children living with HIV/Aids which put them into critical conditions. As Rwanda joins the rest of the world today to mark World Patient Safety Day, these are some of the challenges we should reflect on to ensure safety for patients under the care of medical workers. Unsafe healthcare remains a big challenge in the country and has not spared many parts of the world. However, it is encouraging that the Ministry of Health has started cracking the whip on medical professionals who put the lives of patients at risk. Patient safety is a global public health issue and estimates show that in developed countries, as many as one in 10 patients is harmed while receiving hospital care. In recent years, countries have increasingly recognised the importance of improving patient safety. However, a lot still needs to be done to meet the standards of patient safety. The Health Ministry should carry out impromptu on spot checks and sensitization clinics in all health facilities to ensure that medical workers live by their professional oath and observe the best professional standards when dealing with patients. The sensitisation should as well extend to patients who don’t adhere to medical prescription. Many patients start medication but when they start feeling well, they stop taking medication as prescribed. Not taking a full dose has consequences including cases of drug resistance.
