[afro-nets] RFI: salaries and pre-service training costs (5)

[Patrick Mbindyo <pmbindyo@magricon.com>]

RFI: salaries and pre-service training costs (5)
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Dear Fred,

I will agree with you on the problem of waiting till our econo-
mies improve - we might wait forever! Yet, try to understand
that the medical profession is only one of many in Africa, and
none are doing well. So, let us not divorce the medical profes-
sion from the other professions.

Additionally, I believe that it is not the professionals who are
the issue, but the poor. Is it not true that over 65% (or higher
in some African countries) of the medical professionals are to
be found in major urban centres (where most other non-medical
professionals live)? Who then takes care of the rural people who
invariably will not be as wealthy as their urban counterparts?

Thus the reason for my argument on the economy. It is my opinion
that the professionals (both medical and non-medical) go to the
west because these economies can afford to pay for their ser-
vices. Even in our continent, there are a number of hospitals
that pay their staff highly for their services. This is because
these hospitals are mostly patronised by nationals who are
wealthy or foreigners.

Further, people need to be well in order to work. They are
therefore able to generate money, pay their medical bills if
sick etc., etc. If you are poor because you do not have a job,
and are sick, that becomes a problem of major proportions. I be-
lieve that it is because of this that a number of medical pro-
fessionals do not go to the west.

Again, even if the medical professionals were to be paid well
and they lack facilities and medical supplies to do their work,
giving them good salaries may not be the solution. An integrated
approach that addresses both human resource and institutional
factors is required. As we work towards such an approach, we
should take up Eric's proposal since we need to start somewhere
and he provides a starting point as good as any other.

--
I will again agree with Fred Njovu on the issue of exporting
professionals. India and other Asian countries have been export-
ing IT professionals to the US and other countries for a while
now.

Africa could do the same for medical profession, but we need to
appreciate the magnitude of investments required in order to
achieve this.

I could be wrong, but I am made to understand that India's IIT
compares favourably to USA's MIT. We need to see what India did
and replicate the same for the western health market.

If it is cheaper to follow Eric's Proposal, we should go for it.


Patrick Mbindyo
mailto:pmbindyo@magricon.com