Africa urged to copy healthcare models (Africa)

Citation

(2012), "Africa urged to copy healthcare models (Africa)", Leadership in Health Services, Vol. 25 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/lhs.2012.21125caa.004

Africa urged to copy healthcare models (Africa)

Article Type: News and views From: Leadership in Health Services, Volume 25, Issue 3

Keywords: Global healthcare models, Healthcare strategy, African healthcare improvements, Healthcare and culture

A British independent member of parliament has praised Africans for solving African problems themselves, saying they should also opt for the successful healthcare models of other countries.

Lord Nigel Crisp, an MP in the House of Lords, was speaking at the Healthcare in Africa Summit in the Westin Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, an event organised and hosted by Economist Conferences, the leading provider of international forums for senior executives seeking new insights into strategic issues.

The event brought together about 180 participants from the United States, Europe and Africa. Its aim was to find new and better solutions to maximise the health and wellbeing of Africans.

Crisp praised Africans for solving the continent’s problems, before advising them to adopt successful healthcare models.

“You must also consider lessons from other countries whose models have been successful,” he said.

Crisp had been working in African countries including South Africa since 2006, at the request of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Crisp, who is also the former chairman of Global Health Workforce Alliance, said the United Kingdom had a successful healthcare system because it formed partnerships with the private sector.

The country also worked closely with other countries to ensure that it improved the healthcare system.

“A few years ago we brought in healthcare professionals from South Africa and other countries and they introduced a low-cost healthcare system in the UK,” he said.

National Department of Health director-general Malebona Precious Matsoso said: “While funding for healthcare systems cannot be sustained in some countries, stokvels in South Africa have been used in financing the healthcare system in the country.”

Matsoso said the department has undertaken some interventions in a bid to improve the quality of healthcare for the people.

Sir Richard Feachem, director for Global Health Group in the US, said a few years ago there had been significant progress in marshalling resources to tackle HIV-Aids, malaria and tuberculosis as new donors and institutions emerged.

“But more funds and the focus was needed to eradicate them altogether,” he said.

The progress had been made possible by money, technology and commitment by some political leaders towards the goal of a Malaria-free society in Africa.

There were also cheaper and better drugs made available a few years ago.

Although malaria has been reduced, it is still a problem.

Feachem also said: “Many lives of HIV-positive people are likely to be improved because of new evidence conducted by researchers.”

Delegates wanted to know what would be the role of traditional healers in the healthcare system.

Others were very concerned about the high cost of medicine and other drugs, calling for a reduction in price for the benefit of many people.

For more information: www.sowetanlive.co.za