[afro-nets] Markets for Healthcare: the unending debate

[Tarry Asoka <carenet2020@yahoo.co.uk>]

Markets for Healthcare: the unending debate
-------------------------------------------

For a long time we have been made to believe that healthcare is
about ideologies. Public versus private, profit versus non-
profit, social solidarity versus capital gain, poor versus rich,
preventive versus curative and the list can go on and on. Given
the chronic malfunctioning of healthcare systems the world over,
it may appear to depend on only one element ­ and that is choice
exercised by the individual consumer. This is the fundamental
basis of markets. It therefore calls for a major paradigm shift
to allow healthcare to function within a market framework ­
which has absolutely nothing to do with ideologies.

Some left leaning economist will quickly point out the market
failures inherent in healthcare, but this is mainly because the
healthcare market has not been allowed to work as a market
should. We are all aware of the ?empowered patient? who must
live with chronic conditions ­ such a patient it has been shown
do much better than those who maintain a passive role. Even in
developing countries, thanks to globalisation and the ICT revo-
lution, the internet promises to be a major empowering tool for
healthcare consumers.

In Nigeria for example, consumers are already voting with their
feet by spending more out of pocket resources in the private
sector where the public sector is seen to be providing rela-
tively poor quality care. Therefore, despite the complicated in-
formation, healthcare consumers should be able to successfully
navigate the healthcare market as has happened in other markets
­ such as savings and investments. This would allow healthcare
providers to compete on service quality rather than the present
monopolistic tendencies in certain markets. As advocated by the
Economist contrary to traditional argument healthcare ?is too
important not to be exposed to the markets?.


Dr Tari Asoka
Executive Director
Care-Net Ltd
Plot 16 Ibaa Street, Abuloma
Port Hracourt
Rivers State, Nigeria
Tel.: +234-08023048497
mailto:carenet2020@yahoo.co.uk