About H.A.N.D.
The Health Advocacy New Delhi (H.A.N.D.) is a network targeting patients and patient families. H.A.N.D. aims to tackle the lack of information, support, and clarity that health practitioners and hospitals often “forget” to provide. Through a series of educational and awareness raising workshops, H.A.N.D. assists patients understand their fundamental Patient Bill of Right- from explaining the importance of medical autonomy when deciding on a course of treatment, to ensuring fair treatment is provided to all patients. Ultimately, we hope to be patient liaisons and provide resources to vulnerable families as they engage with the Indian healthcare system.
Background
In situations of life or death- where the expertise of a medical professional seem to be absolute- people are at their most vulnerable and will listen to anything. Health practitioners have a duty to consent with families, advise them on all courses of treatment, and allow for them to make an educated decision. While this may happen, it is the lack of literacy, often coupled with language and cultural barriers, that allows for these decisions to be made.
Health Literacy, or a lack thereof, is a global issue; one that desperately plagues much of India. 41% of women and 18% of men of 15-49 years of age (World Bank, 2017) have never been to school. With such a large percentage of the population unable to read and understand the simplest of sentences, even in their own regional language, delivering health information and understanding one’s owns ‘health rights’ is nearly impossible. This phenomenon of health illiteracy has led to overmedication, malpractice, and inaccessibility to an individual's basic health rights.
Our Materials
H.A.N.D. Curriculum
