The Ghana Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Health has resolved to take up the challenge of helping to educate the people on the "Patients' Charter."
This is to empower them to become more assertive and prevent infractions of their rights and responsibilities.
Ms Otema Ohene-Addo, Co-ordinator of the Coalition, was addressing the opening of a two-day training workshop on "the rights of the citizen as a consumer of health care services" in Kumasi.
Sixty-six participants from Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Eastern regions attended.
The Coalition organized the programme to enlighten and deepen their understanding of the Charter.
Ms Ohene-Addo described as totally unacceptable the situation where some health workers take advantage of the ignorance of most patients to trample on their rights.
This, she said, needed to change and that patients deserve to be treated with respect and civility.
She appealed to health workers to abide by the provisions of the Charter to help patients to build confidence in them.
Mr Samuel Oracca Tetteh, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Coalition, urged the participants to strive to become more acquainted with the Charter in order to help educate people about "what is in there for sustainable development of the health sector."