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Tapiwa Mutizamhepo, Harare Bureau
Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo has urged workers at Government clinics and hospitals to treat patients with care and respect to retain public confidence in the public health delivery system.
The call by Dr Moyo follows concerns of poor customer care services by some medical practitioners employed by public health institutions around the country that have hogged the limelight for years.
Dr Moyo said this while officiating at the inaugural Parirenyatwa group of hospitals Customer Care Championship awards ceremony held last week.
Dr Moyo who had earlier on toured the recently refurnished Mbuya Nehanda Maternity wards and the Radiotherapy Centre at the hospital, said public health workers needed to work hard to counter the misbelief that practice of good customer relations is a preserve for the private sector.
“I am really concerned with the way patients are handled at our health institutions, we have been made to think that customer care is only for the private sector.
“This has been the reason for poor communication in the public sector, patients should find a reason to love and respect you.
“We want to you to behave in the same manner you would behave at private health institutions, we want you to change to ensure that everyone works in the correct manner and delivers appropriately,” said Dr Moyo.
He also encouraged other public health institutions to emulate the move taken by Parirenyatwa hospital in coming up with initiatives that seek to improve customer care services.
Dr Moyo implored local medical and nursing schools to consider adopting customer care modules in the training of healthcare professionals.
“We also want to hear that all other institutions have employed strategies to improve customer care.
“Let me take this opportunity to encourage you to ensure that a module on customer care is included in the curriculum for the training of healthcare professionals”, said Dr Moyo.
The awards ceremony was organised to recognise excelling workers drawn from both clinical and non-clinical departments at the hospital.
Online Reporter