RE: The financial impact of health in Nigeria today: fate of the common man and way forward
You are viewing a single comment's thread:
I know its a late reply but interesting article. I especially liked this part:
It is more cost-effective to prevent sickness and promote healthy lifestyles. These range from, but are not limited to, having adequate rest, eating balanced diets, especially fruits and vegetables that are known to have antioxidant properties, regular exercise, drinking water regularly, limiting the intake of carbonated drinks, and reducing harmful habits such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, etc.
There is a saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and I believe in that 100%. I see so many people come into the Pharmacy with a desire to have a tablet to fix them. The reality is that lifestyle changes would do them much better. As an example : "Ozempic" for weight loss. It is effective for weight loss and a good diabetes medication. However at a cost of N200,000 / month wouldn't it be better just to change diet and exercise?
As for your cost for medication. I'm thinking that you are paying "world" prices on a "local" scale. The price for Augmentin (called Clavulin in Canada) is similar to the Canadian and Filipino price. Global commodity = Global price. Except the local community can't afford it so that means only the rich get treatment. Sad.
As for limited resources in the hospital. I'm in a rich country and hospital and doctor visits are free. However, when things are free everyone wants to get the most they can. Hospital waits 6hrs and longer aren't particularly uncommon because there are only so many doctors who get overworked here too. Then again, their wages are pretty good with a general physician making N- 250,000,000 yearly with a specialist making up to 4x that amount (N500,000,000 for surgeon and N 1,400,000,000 for Opthalmologist).
I mention this only because while Nigeria is experiencing a "brain drain" of Doctors looking for better pay elsewhere and I understand your frustration with those are are abandoning their countrymen for many people -- Money Talks.
Just wanted to say I enjoyed the article. I'm trying to write my response to your article on agriculture but I'm still sifting through your posts trying to find it and got distracted by this one ;)
Oh... Thank you very much for your contribution. Yet today, I got a call from a doctor colleague informing me she's LEAVING. I screamed but, I rejoiced with her.
Sincerely, I'm wondering if I'm doing right by staying back.
But in my article, I'm trying my little best to fix that which can be fixed.
You can imagine my colleagues practicing in other countries needing a physician to consult their loved ones? I see a time that money would not get medical treatment but the queue to see the few that stay back.
That has another effect, the doctors are now setting up private facilities since the government facilities are always choked with patients.
The brain drain is massive and experienced professionals are on the decline.
Don't know if you heard of fake products making the news in Nigeria in the last 48 hours? Surely we have fake drugs too... Rocephin inclusive
I'm yet optimistic that great things will come out of Africa, Nigeria especially!
I can't speak for Nigeria as my knowledge there is very slim. Indeed if you wonder about the #earnspendgive community I've been using it to gather what knowledge I can so I'm not totally ignorant...but it is certainly not enough.
However, I do know about the Philippines. Do you know what the main Filipino export is?
Nurse
Now you may think that I"m joking but I'm not. Remittance back home from OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) is the third largest source of income for the Filipino economy.
Imagine just for a moment if you sent one Doctor to Canada to work as an Opthalmologist. Imagine that he (or she) is indeed making 1.4 Billion Naira yearly. Imagine that they take what they need to live a quiet, comfortable life in Canada (200 Million Naira yearly). Then they send back 1.2 Billion Naira every year to train and support other doctors.
I know human nature and I really doubt that would ever happen..
... but just imagine the change it could make if it did?
Anyways, still working on my agriculture post...but I did refind your article :)
Thank you very much. What if.... But it is as we see it.... Such monies would take other paths rather than build more doctors.
Thank you
I know.
.... What if?
In Canada we lose Doctors to the USA and then lament the shortage. Our wages are good but theirs are better.
In some parts of Canada (like Sasatchewan) they make Doctors sign a service agreement to local communities when they start medical school. They pay significant fees to go to school but all of those fees are refunded one they perform a number of years working in the province. In fact the "work in province" is compulsory for acceptance for a number of years (4 I think but I don't live there). It's not a perfect solution but better than nothing.