Health Ministry to provide certificates of quality to hospitals and clinics

The Health Ministry is preparing to hand out certificates of quality to state-run hospitals and health centres around the country. The certificated will be issued on the basis of results achieved and an assessment by patients themselves. Late last year the ministry conducted an in-depth survey of the care provided in 18 state run hospitals and 12 psychiatric institutions. The survey, in which 26,000 patients took part, indicated general satisfaction with the treatment provided and the length of time patients had to wait to be admitted to hospital, but respondents complained about the quality of hospital food and the authoritative attitude of doctors and nurses.