CITIZEN’S CHARTER OF DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH SERVICES (GOA STATE) 2018 DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH SERVICES CAMPAL, PANAJI-GOA website : www.dhsgoa.gov.in email :
[email protected] 1 FOREWORD Today in addition to the facilities in Government sector, private services also play a significant role in providing health care. In order that the health care does not become a tool for exploitation of the vulnerable section, Government of India has taken measures such as Consumer Protection Act, accreditation of Private Hospitals etc. The Consumer Protection Act seeks to provide better protection to the interest of the consumers and settlement of consumer disputes and matters connected therewith. As such, the health care providers in the country are now alert to the need of providing quality health care. Accreditation is a kind of star rating, as existing in the case of tourism industry, on the basis of levels of service, efficiency as well as cleanliness. Thus, accreditation involves the evaluation of health care facility’s performance. The main aim of Citizen’s Charter is to raise quality, extend accountability besides providing information, choice and redressal mechanism. Equity of access to health facilities and securing a prominent place for health in the overall developmental framework is one of our major concerns. At the ground level, a number of key issues need to be addressed viz. better management, more efficient administration, greater accountability and improved quality and performance of services in the health sector. Until recently the provider has dominated in the provision of health services. The focus now has to be on the user.