A healthy and safe environment
Everyone has the right to a healthy and safe environment that will ensure their physical and mental health or well-being, including adequate water supply, sanitation and waste disposal as well as protection from all forms of environmental danger, such as pollution, ecological degradation or infection.
Participation in decision-making
Every citizen has the right to participate in the development of health policies and everyone has the right to participate in decision-making on matters affecting one's health.
Access to health care
Everyone has the right of access to health care services that include:
receiving timely emergency care at any health care facility that is open regardless of one's ability to pay;
treatment and rehabilitation that must be made known to the patient to enable 13 patient to understand such treatment or rehabilitation and the consequences thereof;
provision for special needs in the case of newborn infants, children, pregnant worman, the aged, disabled persons, patients in pain, persons living with HIV or AIDS patients;
counselling without discrimination, coercion or violence on matters such as reproductive health, cancer or HIV/AIDS.
palliative care that is affordable and effective in cases of incurable or terminal iIllness;
a positive disposition displayed by health care providers that demonstrate courtesy, human dignity, patience, empathy and tolerance;
healthy information that includes the availability of healthy services and how best to use such services and such information shall be In the language understood by the patient.
Knowledge of ones health insurance/medical aid scheme
A member of a health insurance or medical aid scheme is entitled to information about that Insurance or medical aid scheme and to challenge, where necessary, the decisions of such health insurance or medical aid scheme relating to Ihe member,
Choice of health services
Everyone has the right to choose a particular health care provider for services, or a particular health facility for treatment provided that such choice shall not be contrary to the ethical standards applicable to such health care providers or facilities, and the choice of facilities In line with prescribed service delivery guide lines.
Be treated by a named health care provider
Everyone has the right to know the person that is providing health care and therefore must be attended to by cteariy identified health care providers.
Confidentiality and privacy
Information concerning one's health, including information concerning treatment may only be disclosed with informed consent, except when required in terms of any law or an order of court.
Informed consent
Everyone has the right to be given full and accurate information about the nature of one's illness, diagnostic procedures, the proposed treatment and the costs involved, for one to make a decision that affects anyone of these elements.
Refusal of treatment
A person may refuse treatment and such refusal shall be verbal or in writing provided that such refusal does not endanger the health of others.
Be referred for a second opinion
Everyone has the right to be referred for a second opinion on request to a health provider of one's choice.
Continuity of care
No one shall be abandoned by a health care professional worker or a health facility which initially took responsibility for one's health.
Complain about health services
Everyone has the right to complain about health care services and to have such complaints investigated and to receive a full response on such investigation