<p>Identifying Key Challenges Facing Healthcare Systems In Africa And Potential Solutions</p>

Abstract

IntroductionHealthcare systems in Africa suffer from neglect and underfunding, leading to severe challenges across the six World Health Organization (WHO) pillars of healthcare delivery. We conducted this study to identify the principal challenges in the health sector in Africa and their solutions for evidence-based decisions, policy development and program prioritization.MethodsThe study was conducted as part of a recent African Epidemiological Association Meeting in Maputo, Mozambique with participants drawn from 11 African countries, Cuba, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Participants were divided into 10 groups, consisting of 7 to 10 persons each. Brainstorming approaches were used in a structured, modified nominal group process exercise to identify key challenges and strategies to mitigate healthcare service challenges in Africa. Identified challenges and solutions were prioritised by ranking 1–5, with 1 most important and 5 being least important.ResultsThe first three challenges identified were inadequate human resources (34.29%), inadequate budgetary allocation to health (30%) and poor leadership and management (8.45%). The leading solutions suggested included training and capacity building for health workers (29.69%), increase budgetary allocation to health (20.31%) and advocacy for political support and commitment (12.31%).ConclusionThe underdeveloped healthcare systems in Africa need radical solutions with innovative thought to break the current impasse in service delivery. For example, public-private initiatives should be sought, where multinational companies extracting resources from Africa might be encouraged to plough some of the profits back into healthcare for the communities providing the workforce for their commercial activities. Most problems and their solutions lie within human resources, budget allocation and management. These should be accorded the highest priority for better health outcomes.

Quantifying Recent Upsurge in Covid-19 Incidence and Related Fatalities: An Implication of Delayed Response or State of Delivery Health Care System?

“…More so, the trends of the COVID-19 fatality growth rates for Nigeria were relatively higher compared to the Global fatality growth rates from the (tdr2) all through the (trd8) periods covered in the study. contemporary studies addressing the state of the primary and community health in Nigeria revealed that the healthcare delivery system in the country was not only poor but also inadequate (4,6,12). Hence, the comparatively higher growth of COVID-19 fatalities in Nigeria could be attributed to the shortage of welltrained medical personnel and the ill-equipped of the few medical healthcare facilities in the country (7).…”

Robotic surgery in Nigeria: an uncertain possibility

“…Out-of-pocket (OOP) spending is the main mode of healthcare financing in Nigeria -another implication of poor investment in healthcare by the government. 11 Even if a robotic surgical program is currently been implemented in the nation, OOP payment poses a major limitation to accessing such expensive surgical service. Aside from the huge initial cost of acquisition of the robot, an additional $700 to $3,500 for instruments and accessories per procedure puts the cost associated with robotic-assisted procedures in the range of $3,000 to $5,000.…”

“…9 Already, almost 70% of total healthcare financing is OOP, the most regressive method of healthcare financing, with resultant catastrophic health spending pushing many families into poverty. 11,13 Therefore, the high bill of robotic procedures cannot be afforded by many patients and their relatives.…”

Job Satisfaction and Its Associated Factors Among Governmental Health Workers in West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

“…Despite a high disease burden in most African countries, the provision of healthcare services is largely inadequate and ineffective. Possible reasons include challenges related to leadership and governance, health workforce, medical products, technologies, financing, and services delivery [4]. The shortage of health care workers in particular is a major cause for concern among other factors.…”

“…Strong leadership style is probably the reason why nurses in Nigeria are more satisfied with their jobs when compared with their colleagues in other countries even though they may work for longer hours or earn relatively less salaries [6]. Moreover, factors related to the work environment, low payment, poor working conditions, limited educational and career opportunities, unsafe workplaces, and a lack of resources for effective working were reported from different parts of the world [4,[7][8][9][10].…”