Identifying key challenges facing healthcare systems in Africa and potential solutions
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Introduction: Healthcare 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. Methods: The 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 ten 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. Results: The 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%). Conclusion: The 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.
Date Issued
2019-11-06
Date Acceptance
2019-10-17
Citation
International Journal of General Medicine, 2019, 2019 (12), pp.395-403
ISSN
1178-7074
Publisher
Dove Medical Press
Start Page
395
End Page
403
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of General Medicine
Volume
2019
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Oleribe et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (http://www.dovepress.com/permissions.php). The full terms of the License are
available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author
and source are credited
available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author
and source are credited
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Identifier
https://www.dovepress.com/identifying-key-challenges-facing-healthcare-systems-in-africa-and-pot-peer-reviewed-article-IJGM
Grant Number
097816/Z/11/ZR
097816/Z/11/A
097816/Z/11/B
105603/Z/14/Z
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, General & Internal
General & Internal Medicine
Africa
healthcare management
human resources
health systems
NOMINAL GROUP
NIGERIA
Africa
health systems
healthcare management
human resources
1103 Clinical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-11-06