Parliament approves bill on rights of healthcare service beneficiaries and medical liability [Upd 1]

Tunis: The Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP), on Wednesday afternoon, approved Bill 30-2023 concerning the rights of healthcare service beneficiaries and medical liability.The bill was adopted with 108 votes in favour, 3 abstentions, and 5 votes against.During the afternoon session, the deputies continued the debates about the vote on the various articles of this bill. They began the session with the adoption of Article 28 and Articles 29, 30, 33, 35, 38, 41, 42, 44, 45, 48, 49 and 50 in their initial version, as proposed by the Committee on Health, Women's Affairs, Social Affairs and the Disabled at the National Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP).During the debates, Article 31 was modified following a proposal focusing on the obligation of healthcare agencies to adhere to the insurance scheme as well as to guarantee the right to invoke medical liabilities in the event of medical malpractice but not does not require public health structures to join private insurance companies. The MPs a dopted the amended version of this article.The deputies adopted the modified version of Article 32 by deleting the last two paragraphs which were added to Article 34.They also agreed to amend Article 36 by adding an extra paragraph as well as introduce modifications to Articles 37 and 40 which were adopted in their new version.The deputies also adopted the modified version of Article 47 which stipulates that «serious negligence is the basis of the tort liability of healthcare professionals».This bill, which was proposed, by deputies includes 6 chapters and 50 articles.In its first article, this bill aims to protect the rights of beneficiaries of healthcare structures and bodies. It also covers prevention mechanisms, risks and damages linked to healthcare services and the liability of healthcare professionals.The ARP speaker pointed out that during the plenary session, the parliament was able, through the adoption of this bill to serve the interests of all parties concerned (patients, doctors and h ealthcare structures) as well as reassure all Tunisian citizens.Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse