Uganda National Health Users'/Consumers' Organisation promotes awareness on the rights of health consumers
7 February 2005 - Established in 1999 the Uganda National Health Users'/Consumers' Organisation (UNHCO) focuses on lobbying and advocacy to promote awareness on the mutual rights and interests of consumers and providers in the delivery and development of health services in Uganda. UNHCO perceives its mission as a fundamental component of the broader quest for good governance that embraces accountability, integrity and promotion of human rights.
In order to empower consumers to demand for their rights in both public and private health services UNHCO seeks to:
- Promote widespread awareness on the rights ands obligations of health consumers and the quality health services they should expect at all times.
- Develop a stronger institutional mechanism able to provide a platform for the articulation of the voices of all consumers of health services in Uganda.
- Enhance partnership and cooperation with health providers in advocating for improved working conditions.
- Advocate for the recognition, protection and provision of accessible quiliaty health care for all, as a fundumental human right.
- Collaborate with like-minded civil society groups, development partners and other relevant institutions in the public and private sector to promote consumer interests and foster sustainable improvement in the delivery of health services.
- Contribute to raising the quality of health care through effective consumer participation in planning, management, monitoring, evaluation and constructive follow-up on services provided by both public and private sectors.
Strategic Programmes
UNHCO operationalises its objectives by undertaking the following main functions:
- Sensitization/raising awareness among consumers, providers of health services and other stakeholders on the rights and obligations of health care consumers.
- Research, documentation and dissemination of relevant information on consumer rights and obligations.
- Monitoring, evaluation and publication of health services' delivery issues in the country.
- Advocacy, lobbying and constructive engagement with health providers, policy makers, development partners and other interest groups at both national and local levels to enhance the quality of health care through consumer participation.
For more information contact: The National Coordinator, UNHCO, P.O.Box 70095, Kampala, Uganda , Tel: +2576 041 266 822