Don’t mess with files of patients being ‘treated’ overseas

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‘Violators of instructions to face legal consequences’

KUWAIT CITY, July 5: The Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for External Health Services Affairs, Dr. Yaqoub Al-Tamar, in a circular to all doctors and employees of the Overseas Treatment Department, stipulates that the files of patients receiving treatment abroad should not be handed over to anyone except to the patient, or the first-degree relative on his/her behalf, only on the strength of a written authorization from the concerned person to be kept in the patient’s file, reports Al-Qabas daily.

According to the circular, a copy of has been obtained by the daily, this is done in the interest of the smooth and regular workflow in the administration, and in view of the confidentiality of the information contained in patients’ files, including documents, data and medical information that should not be viewed except by the person concerned and it is prohibited to make a copy of any papers, data or decisions regarding their treatment procedures, using any imaging method.

It is also prohibited to extract any file from the Files Division without proof of who delivered and received it and the date of receipt, with recording the movement of the file between the various departments, stressing all department employees must abide by what is stated in this circular, and whoever violates these legal instructions will expose himself/herself to legal consequences.

This news has been read 9107 times!