Transcript ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE HEALTH SECTOR

ETHICS AND PROFESSIONALISM IN
THE HEALTH SECTOR
CURRENT CHALLENGES
Dr.Apollo O.Epuwatt,
Consultant Physician,
Kinics of St.Francis,Tororo
P.T. Lecturer - BUSHS
Dr
Definition - ETHICS
• Ethics – moral principals that control or
influence a persons behavior
- The branch of philosophy that deals with
moral principals
• Ethical: morally correct or acceptable
(Oxford ALD)
Definition - PROFESSIONALISM
Profession: type of job that needs special
training or skill, especially one that needs a
high level of education:
medical/legal/teaching/nursing
Professionalism: the high standard that you
would expect from a person who is well
trained in a particular job: we were impressed
by the professionalism of the staff
(Oxford ALD)
Based on the Hippocratic Oath
AREAS OF FOCUS
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Doctor to Profession
Doctor to Doctor
Doctor to Patient
Doctor to Community
Doctor to Profession
Doctor to Self
Doctor Other Health Professionals
Doctor to Profession
A doctor has cardinal obligation to the
profession that ‘makes’ us, to UPHOLD:
1) The highest moral reputation, honor and
dignity of the profession and the doctor
2) Highest standards of medical practice
3) Advancement of knowledge and technology
4) Teaching and mentorship of others in/for the
‘propagation’ of the profession
Doctor to Doctor
Regard with the highest esteem:
1) Each Others Work
2) Each Others Person
3) Each Others Family
4) Each Others Welfare
Doctor to Patient
Sworn Obligation to:
1) To give informed care
2) Point to better care early
3) Guide to the best care
4) Always give dignified care
5) Never to do harm to patient or family
Doctor to Community
We have an obligation to:
1) Inform and educate the community on best
health practices and other health related
issues
2) Protect our communities from disease, and
the effects thereof, and from exploitation
3) Advocate for the best health care services for
ALL – we cannot afford to be partial
Doctor to Self
A doctor has an obligation or responsibility to
himself with regard to the profession to:
1) Conduct and present himself to colleagues and
society in a manner worthy of the trust and
honor of them and the honorable profession
2) Constantly update, develop and equip
him/herself for excellence in service
3) Take care of himself and those under his social
care
4) Observe the Law
Doctor to Other Health Professionals
1) Training & Supervision
2) Guidance and Mentorship
3) Leadership
4) Balanced Partnership & Cooperation
5) Cautiously/respectfully - but firmly and
surely [re]poses Team Leader Role
Emerging Trends
1) Distance Between Doctors - Costly
2) Dwindling Trust from Community
3) Growing ‘Autonomy’ of the other health
professions - ? less interdependence
4) Near Anarchy in the health sector –’Things
fall apart – the centre cannot hold’ (CA)
Emerging Situations – Proliferation of
Training Institutions
Concerns:
1) Selection for training
2) Quality of Training
3) Qualification – ‘money vs. marks’
4) Quality of Internship & Doctor
5) Deployment
6) Supervision
Evolving Situations - Technological
Advancement
Concerns:
1) Effectiveness
2) Usefulness
3) Harmful/Side Effects
4) Affordability
5) Rational Use and Operator Competence
Evolving Situations - Medical Tourism
1) Inappropriate terminology
2) Positive Aspect
3) Negative Aspects
4) Need for regulation and accreditation
(UMA- 7S)of centers
AREAS OF CHALLENGES
Summary
1) Doctor Solidarity
2) Health Training
3) Commercialization
4) Health Regulation
WAY FOWARD
1) Vigilance ,Cooperation, and Involvement by ALL
Doctors in matters of Ethics & Professionalism
2) Harmonized Regulation - NHRA
3) Inter-Professional Cooperation within the health
sector acknowledging that we ALL deal with dear
SACRED LIFE
4) Emphasize the teaching and practice of ethics in all
disciplines in the health sector
5) Stem the invasion by non-professionals and nonprofessionalism from undermining ethics, trust,and
good practice and professionalism in the health sector
INSIST ON
1) ETHICS is part and parcel of all health
professions , and greatly influences the quality
of service provision.
2) Professionalism has to do with HIGH
STANDARDS in training and practice, and must
never be compromised in selection, training,
assessment, qualification, internship,
supervision and accreditation – and saves lives.
3) A clear effective National Health Regulatory
Authority – without duplication - must be put
in place.
ROLES FOR UMA
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General Advocacy and Policy Advice
Prevent Exploitation
Rational use of meager resources
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EYALAMA !
Mbale - 2015
THANK YOU!