The Fiji College of General Practitioners believes that there is a need to establish a complaints mechanism in the country to safeguard the patients and their families.

President Dr Wahid Khan in his report in this month's general practitioner journal said if such a body is not established than the people will be persistently denied justice in seeking answers to their dilemma.

He said patients are entitled to receive health care of an appropriate standard to give informed consent and to complain to an authority about perceived malpractice.

He said the Fiji College of General Practitioners had come up with a proposal that a Commission be established with the appointment of a Commissioner of Patient's complaints who can be an independent senior legal practitioner in-charge overall. He said sub-commissioners can be also nominated consisting of a senior medical practitioner from the Ministry of Health, a general practitioner, a representative from the consumer sector and the dental sector.