24 Nov 2016

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has expressed disappointment and concern over a developing trend of individual personal information including confidential health information appearing in public media.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Ms Shenaaz El-Halabi explained in a media statement that to print or publish often deeply personal information about patients was to essentially strip patients of their dignity and right to privacy.

Ms El-Halabi noted that a matter of further grave concern was a seemingly deliberate misrepresentation of what may have really transpired.

“It must be appreciated that these stories which are often inaccurate have the potential to erode public confidence in our health care system thereby reversing the gains we have made as a country. This leads to a further risk of the public not timely accessing health facilities which can have severe consequences at a personal and national level,” she said.

She explained that Botswana as a country valued and guaranteed freedom of expression.

She said there was little that could be done to stop patients from discussing their personal health information with the media but the ministry would not entertain discussing health information of patients with third parties as this would clearly be a breach of professional conduct including doctor-patient confidentiality.

“I want to reaffirm the ministry’s commitment to providing quality health care service. The ministry has a team of highly committed health care professionals who will do what it takes to do just that, despite the challenges known to all of us. It is therefore far more worthy to recognise these heroes rather than concentrate on a few isolated unfortunate incidents,” she highlighted.

She said she could not deny there were some undesirable elements within the health care system which needed to be weeded out.

Ms El-Halabi said the ministry would continue to work with health care professional bodies such as Botswana Health Professions Council and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana to ensure that the high standards of service and professional etiquette that characterised Botswana’s health care system were maintained.

She assured the nation that the health care system remain committed to providing quality health services in keeping with guarded values of Botho, Equity, Confidentiality, Timeliness, Teamwork, Accountability and being Customer Focused. BOPA