AFRO-NETS> RFI: MDs employed by the State and private health sector (2)

[Sarah Archer <DrSEArcher@aol.com>]

RFI: MDs employed by the State and private health sector (2)
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I have some experience in Francophone and Portuguese-speaking African 
countries -- the situation you describe is common there, too as well 
as in much of South Asia, by the way. A major reason is the failure 
of the State to pay adequate salaries -- sometimes to pay at all -- 
forcing medical personnel to: 

- charge families in public/State hospitals for all kinds of services 
- leave State service as soon as they can for private practice 
- do both State and private practice as a means to gain an "adequate 
  income". 

As always the poor are those who suffer most because they cannot pay 
and so are deprived of needed care. Another serious problem is that 
those who can--often the brightest and best trainer -- leave for 
other countries where they can have abetter standard of living. This 
results in standards of care sinking ever lower. If medical types 
were better paid by State some of what you and OI describe might de-
crease.

Sarah Archer 
mailto:DrSEArcher@aol.com

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