Health care provision- the rough road to quality, affordability and accesability

1. 56

   Masakhwe Giradeposted 14 years ago

   As a health care provider in a public hospital in Kenya i have to say it is frustrating, infuriating even just seeing the way things are. Making do with what is publicly provided(it's hardly enough!) most patients in these facilities have to take care of the rest. This in the first instance is one put-off to these patients. Even if they came many will go back to their homes and sit back wishing their illnesses to just go away! Many more will buy half doses of medicines at the chemists. The rest will be back for treatment hoping that the supplies are back. Now this is the scenario. At independence the three impediments to progress namely disease, ignorance and poverty were declared public enemies. That was forty seven years ago.

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2. 69

   Ralph Deedsposted 14 years ago

   It seems to me there is a correlation, or should be, between health care improvement and economic progress. In the absence of an effective government and a growing economy, improving health care is difficult. [I know little about Kenya's government and economy. Your task seems very difficult.]

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   1. 59

      Evan G Rogersposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      indeed, health care is little different from any other industry.
      
      In order to produce drugs and care cheaply enough for those living there, there needs to be massive investment in capital so that the necessary supply can be produced cheaply enough that they can afford it.
      
      on top of this, there needs to be a stable market. This can be brought about via a stable, powerful - but most importantly - restricted government. In order for people to WANT to invest in capital in a certain area of the world, they need to know that their investment won't be stolen from them. This protection from theft does NOT have to be provided by government, obviously; any private security firm would do just as well.
      
      Good luck!

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      1. 0

         GladYaMetMe!posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Good grief Evan! You seem to be a ubiquitous one-trick pony around here.
         
         You expect the so called free market to fix every human ill without any guarding of the public in terms of safety and exploitation. Do you really believe what you're ptichen'? What happened when your ideology destroyed the world's economy as a result of gutting or ignoring banking and investment regulation?
         
         Every empire falls when there are no guards to guard the guards! The chicken-ass media is getting slaughtered now by Fox News because Murdoch is ruthless  and it's the same in healthcare, insurance, banking and pharmaceuticals!  If you can't see that then you're just another half-witl who's easily demagogued.
         
         

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         1. 59

            Evan G Rogersposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            no, every empire has fallen because of monetary inflation. When governments leave the gold standard they fail. This lesson is constant throughout history, and it's merely a matter of time before it befalls us.
            
            And calling me a "one-trick pony" is nonsense simply because I can put the same label on you: "Hey, we need government to fix all our ills".
            
            See how that works?
            
            If you actually think that a decrease in banking regulations was the cause of the previous recession then you apparently haven't heard of the numerous regulations that are/were still in place. THE REGULATIONS EXIST, BUT THEY DO NOTHING...
            
            .. I feel like Radioactive Man "Mine eyes!! The goggles do nothing!!!"

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            1. 0

               GladYaMetMe!posted 14 years agoin reply to this

               First I apologize to Masakhwe for the distraction above.  I was merely trying to address the imbalance and unrealistic nature of Evan's solution to "disease, ignorance and poverty."
               
               Pfizer pharmaceuticals is based in my state and they've done nothing to address the disease, ignorance and poverty here--let alone Kenya. So my expectations for capital investment in your country is low.
               
               The sad truth is born out by the history of Africa's exploitation.  If there are no resources to exploit in Kenya--human, animal, plant or mineral--then you can forget about any conglomerate from coming to your rescue. It will be the disillusioned  young men without hope who will be exploited--and I'm sure you already have a good idea of those who will exploit them.
               
               America has always been about freedom, greed and justice, but sadly, the forces of the greedy are undermining justice so the powerful will be more free to exploit the powerless and the meek.
               
               Put your faith in your skills and fight for knowledge, justice and truth to grow in your own community first.

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3. 56

   Masakhwe Giradeposted 14 years ago

   Thanks Ralph, it's true the task is uphill. The vicious cycle seems unbreakable. The economy is projected to post about 6.5 growth this year. But being a health care provider myself what i see daily at work i must say it's not so rosy. If these people keep coming back to hospital with the same same problems then you can fathom what precious economic time is lost. This has been our grind. Time lost, resources diverted to manage illnesses that have only got worse, why? medicine shelves in these facilities are nearly empty. Supplies are erratic and the government body tasked with this is in a lull. But the problem is much deeper. Good health seeking practices are partly to blame. The greatest proportion of the population that comes to these facilities may not be the most critical but it has borne the most brunt. For reasons i may discourse later this segment has fostered a love-hate relationship with these public facilities.

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4. 73

   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   That does sound frustrating, indeed.
   There is no lack of pharmaceuticals available. The supply definitely exists.
   You should see the shelves of American pharmacies (the drugstore equivalent of our grocery stores -- overwhelming).
   Instead of spending millions on advertising to consumers here to encourage more dependence on pills we may (or probably do NOT) need, the pharmaceutical companies could invest that money in providing needed drugs in countries like Kenya.
   But there's no financial incentive for them to do that.
   So they don't.

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