NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION B. Charter on Patient’s Rights 6.7 The Core Advisory Group on Health of NHRC has prepared the ‘Charter of Patient’s Rights’. The Charter of Patients’ Rights draws upon all relevant provisions, inspired by international charters and guided by national level provisions, with the objective of consolidating these into a single document, thereby making them publicly known in a coherent manner. The role of the Charter is to generate widespread public awareness and educate citizens regarding what they should expect from their governments and health care providers—about the kind of treatment they deserve as patients, in health care settings. The Charter has been sent to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and all the State Governments/Union Territories for their comments. The Charter of Patients Rights is a pioneering document to ensure the protection and promotion of Human rights of those who are among the most vulnerable sections of society – ordinary patients and citizens seeking health care across India as it includes, Right to information, Right to records and reports, Right to Emergency Medical Care, Right to informed consent, Right to confidentiality, human dignity and privacy, Right to second opinion, Right to transparency in rates, and care according to prescribed rates wherever relevant, Right to non-discrimination, Right to safety and quality care according to standards, Right to choose alternative treatment options if available, Right to choose source for obtaining medicines or tests, Right to proper referral and transfer, which is free from perverse commercial influences, Right to protection for patients involved in clinical trials, Right to protection of participants involved in biomedical and health research, Right to take discharge of patient, or receive body of deceased from hospital, Right to Patient Education and lastly, Right to be heard and seek redressal. C. Research Study on Assessing the Status of Health System Delivery and Factors Determining Access to Quality Health Care for Tribal Communities 6.8 The research study on “Assessing the Status of Health System Delivery and Factors Determining Access to Quality Health Care for Tribal Communities” is undertaken by NHRC in collaboration with SAMA- Resource Group for Women and Health, New Delhi. The study will enable to understand the status of prevailing health delivery system in terms of its availability and utilization by the tribal population in the States of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The objectives of the study are – to understand the current status of public health care utilization among the tribal communities in the study areas and barriers faced in access to healthcare, and to explore differential access to public healthcare among tribal communities and other population in the study areas and reasons for the same. The said study is to be completed within a period of 12 months. 6.9 80 During the period under report, ‘SAMA’ made a presentation before the Commission Annual Report 2017-2018