Where to choose to seek medical help is a deep personal decision. But in many occasions African leaders have treated that Abbird has thrown the spotlight on local healthcare investment. To a large extent, leaders are responsible for the development of proper health care for the citizens of their countries.
The death of former leaders Muhammadu Buhrariand Edgar Lungu in foreign medical facilities has not pacified the allegations that African leaders neglect public health systems in their own countries.
Jamila Atiku, a researcher of public health in Nigeria, said, “Health care is related to depth in Nigeria. The biggest problem is the infrastructure. There are no drugs and functional medical equipment.”
Low investment in public health
Causes of medical tourism include: lack of locally available special treatment, poorly equipped hospitals, and safety fears for politicians.
Another factor, according to Zimbabwe’s health rights lawyer Chamunorwa Mashoko, has a more dependence on foreign aid.
“In African countries, out of 32 out of 54 countries are not allocating important budgets for health. This donor is inspired by extremely inspired on assistance,” he told DW.
Mashoko said, “Africa fails to feel that foreign money is only for diplomacy in health. They all help us with help, it is nothing to do with our health challenges.”
African countries receive more than $ 60 billion (€ 52 billion) in health funding, which represents just one fraction of the total health financing required for the continent.
As part of the 2001 Abuja Declaration, the Member States of the African Union (AU) committed to end the health financing crisis of the continent by promising to allocate 15% of their annual national budget.
But after every two decades, only three countries, Rwanda, Botswana and Cape Verde, have constantly fulfilled or intensified the target.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 30 AU members allocate for less than 10% of their budget, some allocation is as low as 5-7%.
Atiku said, “Nigeria is fluctuating between 4-6% of the annual budget, saying that politicians are only concerned about other infrastructure development projects on the roads.
“Doctors and health care professionals are always going on strike because they are underpaid,” he said.
In many African countries, in many African countries, under the health systems, is poorly running.
“The dependence on external funding is inconsistent with highly unstable and universal health coverage,” said the Zimbabwe-based Community Working Group on Health.
Rusik said, “Abuja target of 15% allocation for health remains on an alternative target. Now this population is in view of sunshine, heavy illness burden and infrastructure and health worker retention levels.”
Which medical services are abroad
The chronic reduction of special treatment and facilities is running many African patients to seek medical treatment abroad. Affected areas include oncology, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, organ transplants, fertility and pediatrics for managing rare genetic disorders.
More than 300,000 African Indians travel to India for annual medical services, spending more than $ 2 billion each year.
India is said to have produced more than $ 6 billion every year from medical tourism.
Projects show that Asian country may get $ 13 billion in medical tourism by 2026 under the “Heel in India” initiative.
For the African Journal of hospitality, tourism and holidays, Nigerians are estimated to spend $ 1 billion annually on medical tourism. 60% of that amount is spent on oncology, orthopedics, nephrology and cardiology. Additionally, the figure represents about 20% of the annual public health expenditure that covers the salary of health workers.
An estimated 5,000 Nigerians fly monthly for medical treatment from the country, traveling to India in large numbers.
What needs to be done
Some African health officials argue that they are trying their best to improve healthcare for their countries.
Nigeria’s Health and Social Welfare Minister, Iziak Adecunal Salko said, “There is a place to reform the health sector.
“There is not a health system in the world that is 100%. We believe we are going in the right direction in implementing solutions.”
Health experts say that African governments need to create modern health facilities to offer outsourced services abroad.
Health Rights Advocate Chamunorwa Mashoko told DW, “Will not work to look at politicians. Communities need to work together and pull resources to create health care systems for them.”
In 2016, Continental Lander Afreximbank introduced a support facility to build special health facilities across Africa to reduce outbound medical tourism.
The initial goal will focus on the installation of the center of excellence for cancer patients. Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana were identified as suitable for hosting facilities.
edited by, Cai Nebe
