Strengthening Capacities in Healthcare in the Field of Non-Discrimination
The project focuses on key areas that can significantly improve patients' access to healthcare while also creating a safe, inclusive environment for everyone.
The activities carried out by the organization EQUITA within this project aim to overcome barriers to discrimination in healthcare and promote equal access to quality care for all patients, regardless of their ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender, religion, health condition, or social status.
FOR PATIENTS
Patients may face various forms of discrimination based on factors such as age, gender, health status, social position, or ethnicity. This can include limited access to healthcare, inappropriate treatment by medical staff, or biases affecting diagnosis and treatment. People with rare diseases, mental disabilities, or low income may experience additional difficulties in accessing the necessary care.
If you have encountered discrimination in a healthcare facility, you can contact the Slovak National Centre for Human Rights, where you will receive free legal advice.
Viktoriia, Košice, client of a case manager
Zvonko from Serbia visited a doctor, expressing his interest in being registered as a patient. The doctor refused, stating that he was no longer accepting new patients due to capacity reasons.
Later, Zvonko learned from his Slovak colleagues that the doctor continued accepting new patients who were Slovak citizens, even after refusing him.
"DESPITE HAVING QUEUE NUMBER 2, NON-ROMA PATIENTS WERE CALLED BEFORE ME."
Valéria arrived for a medical examination and was assigned queue number 2 by the system. Other (non-Roma) patients arrived afterward and were given higher queue numbers.
The nurse then started calling all the other patients for their examinations—except for Valéria.
She was left waiting until she was the last person in the room, at which point the nurse finally called her in. The nurse was cold and unpleasant towards Valéria, despite treating other patients respectfully.
"MY CHILD WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RECEIVED WORSE TREATMENT THAN MY HEALTHY CHILD."
A child with an intellectual disability had a health issue (unrelated to the disability), which the mother wanted to discuss with the doctor. Despite there being no contraindications, the doctor did not prescribe the commonly used treatment for the child.
Mária has another child without an intellectual disability who suffers from the same health issue. This child has been treated by the same doctor for a long time, and in this case, the doctor had no problem providing the standard treatment.
Examples of possible discrimination
FOR HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
Training Sessions
We offer professional training on the topic of discrimination in healthcare. Our sessions will help you and your staff gain a better understanding of equal treatment and provide practical tools to prevent discrimination in your practice.
If you don't have the time for a full training session, watch our short webinar instead:
-
Discrimination Against Patients: Practical Examples
-
Appropriate Conduct for Healthcare Staff
-
Workplace Discrimination
-
Who to Contact in Cases of Discrimination
Legislative Mapping and Support for the Implementation of Anti-Discrimination Processes in Healthcare Facilities
We offer services that help healthcare facilities implement effective anti-discrimination policies and processes in compliance with applicable legislation.
Our focus is on mapping legislative frameworks that regulate patients' rights and the prevention of discrimination in healthcare. We provide consultations and expert assistance to help you adapt internal processes to align with current legal requirements and ensure equal access to quality care for all patients.
We assist in improving communication and administrative processes within your facility, reducing the risk of discrimination while increasing the efficiency of healthcare services. Our goal is to support you in creating an inclusive environment that respects the rights of all patients.
If you are interested in consultations or assistance with implementing anti-discrimination policies in your facility, contact us for support in enhancing the quality of your services.