[afro-nets] RFI: salaries and pre-service training costs (3)

[Patrick Mbindyo <pmbindyo@magricon.com>]

RFI: salaries and pre-service training costs (3)
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Dear Albert and Eric,

The idea that medical practitioners should be paid more is a
rather thorny issue in Africa. Consider that most are employees
of the government (ministry of health) and should the government
increase their salaries, the salaries of other civil servants
would also have to be increased.

Maybe the issue here is improving the economies so that there is
adequate demand for their services by people able to pay for it.
Better economies with equitable distribution of wealth mean that
an increasing number of people are able to exercise choice over
an increasing number of health issues beyond the current sce-
nario where its a choice between the overworked public health
facilities or no treatment at all especially for rural resi-
dents.

Maybe Eric should address the following:
- The issue of waste of bright students able to take up such of-
fers but due to lack of access do not make it, it would be a
great idea.
- Improving African medical institutions to increase output be-
cause admissions have remained largely the same though brain
drain is increasing. I do appreciate the other side of this ar-
gument, but, the truth is, not all practitioners will go to the
west.
- Encouraging practitioners who have gone to the west to send
money back home.
- Addressing the issue of corruption - the resources wasted can
be put to better use.


Patrick Mbindyo
mailto:pmbindyo@magricon.com