Consumer's Right
Consumer Rights in the Use of Medicines
Right to Basic Needs
Right to Information
Right to choose
Right to safety
Right to redress
Right to representation
Right to Healthy and Sustainable Environment
Right to Consumer Education
INTRODUCTION
There are fundamentally eight consumer rights which are universally acknowledged by the global society. Ranging from basic needs to redress, they are essential elements of human rights. In the 20th century, the presence and influence of the market grew dramatically in consumer life. We began to purchase things from the market for a price. Soon, mass production and industrial production came into being, giving the consumer world an entirely new dimension. Have you ever wondered how much urban consumers depend on the market for fulfillment of even their basic needs? This over-dependence on the market and the inherent profit motive in mass production and sales has given manufacturers and dealers a good reason to exploit consumers. As a consumer, you would know how market products are constantly under-weight, of inferior quality and do not prescribe to quality standards specified by quality-control agencies. Consumers not only do not get value for their money but also often have to suffer losses and inconvenience due to market manipulations.
Consumer rights are now an integral part of our lives like a consumerist way of life. They have been well documented and much talked about. We have all made use of them at some point in our daily lives. Market resources and influences are growing by the day and so is the awareness of one's consumer rights. These rights are well-defined and there are agencies like the government, consumer courts and voluntary organisations that work towards safeguarding them. While we all like to know about our rights and make full use of them, consumer responsibility is an area which is still not demarcated and it is hard to spell out all the responsibilities that a consumer is supposed to shoulder.
1, Right to Basic Needs (Top)
Healthcare is a basic need essential to live. It is your basic rights as an individual to have equitable access to medical care and medicine for health and wellbeing. Therefore, it forms the fundamental responsibilities of governments in every country to ensure that their people have equitable access to basic medicine needs.
2. Right to Information (Top)
Consumers have the right to be well-informed of the medicines theyre taking. Healthcare professionals and the labels on medicine products must inform consumers what kind of medicines theyre taking, what are the side effects, how to take their medicines, how frequent to take it, and the stating precautionary health warnings.
3. Right to Choice (Top)
The right to choose is essentially a consumer's right to choose a safe and healthy product of good quality over an unsafe or defective product. By doing so, consumers can also influence healthy practices to be adopted by the market. It is also important for consumers to have a variety of healthy choices and in medicines, consumers have every right to choose and request for generic versions of their medicines from healthcare providers.
4. Right to Safety (Top)
Every consumer has the right to safe medication. All medicines, whether its prescription drug or health supplements must not in anyway, bring harm to consumers. In Malaysia, the Pharmaceutical Services Division of the Ministry of Health strives to ensure that every single medicine sold in the market is safe for consumer to use.
5. Right to Redress (Top)
The right to obtain redress is an important element given to protect consumer interests. In Malaysia, redress mechanisms such as the Consumer Tribunal and legal courts exist for consumers to gain redress and seek compensation for damages incurred.
6. Right to be heard (Top)
The right to be heard means that consumers should be allowed to voice their opinions and grievances at appropriate channels e.g. health authorities. If you have been cheated in the market place or deprived of the right quality of service, your complaint should be heard and given due attention by the authorities. Consumers should also have a right to voice their opinion when rules and regulations concerning them are being drafted.
7. Right to a Healthy and Sustainable Environment (Top)
The need for environmental conservation is seen as a necessary defense against deteriorating quality of life world-wide. As certain medicines are poisons, their disposal must be carefully and safely done so that it would not cause any significant harm to the surrounding living environment. Polluted environments lead to increased health costs and discomfort for consumers. Valuable resources are lost due to polluted environment and living conditions. Consumers need to understand that only a safe environment can ensure the fulfillment of their consumer rights.
8. Right to Consumer Education (Top)
Consumer education empowers consumers to exercise their consumer rights and is perhaps the single most powerful tool for consumer protection. Consumer education is dynamic, participatory and is mostly acquired by hands-on and practical experience. Consumer education can be in the form of past experiences of consumers, information dissemination by government agencies and NGOs, classroom teaching by teachers and informal lessons by parents.
The 5 Consumer Responsibilities
While the 8 universal consumer rights fundamentally safeguards consumer welfare and interest, consumers themselves also have an important role to play to ensure a healthy social economic balance and sustainable progress.
Critical awareness
The responsibility to be more alert and questioning about the price and quality of goods and services we use. Consumers must be careful and wary in selecting and purchasing medicines especially for those who practice self-medication.
Action
The responsibility to assert ourselves and act to ensure that we get a fair deal. As long as we remain as passive consumers, we will continue to be exploited. Ask your healthcare professionals about your medications and take redressal actions if youre being cheated or exploited.
Social Concerns
The responsibility to be aware of the impact of our consumption on other people, especially disadvantage or powerless groups whether in the local, national or international community.
Environmental Awareness
The responsibility to understand the environment consequences of our consumption. Consumers should recognize their individual and social responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect the earth for future generations. When disposing unused or expired medicines, consumers must take proper care and measures so as not to pollute the environment.
Solidarity
The responsibility to organize together as consumers to develop the strength and influence to promote and protect our interest.
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Quality Use of Medicine
