ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
100m Nigerians risk elephantiasis infection, says Health Minister

Africa: Malaria Care Improves With Cash

byallAfrica
April 26, 2013
3 min read
ADVERTISEMENT

A question had been nagging at Ghanaian researcher Alexander Nartey.

Since Ghana’s government had made health insurance available to the country’s poor to ease the burden of health care, why were so many people still paying cash, including those seeking basic treatment for malaria?

The Ghanaian government in 2003 introduced its National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which Nartey called a “pro-poor policy” to help those less likely to be able to pay for health care. The British charity Oxfam in a 2011 report found a number of problems with the scheme, calling it “severely flawed”, but Nartey was focusing on one key question: why weren’t more poor using it when the premium was less than U.S.$10 per year?

With the support of the Dodowa Health Research Centre in Ghana, Nartey set out to find the answer. Because of his research, theAmerican Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) included him in its Young Investigator Awards last year, giving him international recognition by his peers and a $250 cash award.

What Nartey discovered was what he said was a problem within Ghana’s health system – namely a delay in care. Those who used health insurance generally waited longer to receive treatment – standing in line or sitting on a bench until their turn came – but if they paid out of pocket they were treated much quicker.

This, Nartey said, particularly made a difference when people were seeking treatment for malaria. In a 2010 report, Ghana’s Ministry of Health attributed the illness to 33 percent of deaths among children under five and nine percent of maternal deaths – two groups that are especially vulnerable to the parasite.

Most people initially self-treat for malaria and can’t afford high-quality medications, Nartey said. They will go to a “chemical shop” or pharmacy and buy medication, but it probably won’t be the more effective artemisinin-combination therapy (ACT) that is recommended. The Ghanaian government last year began subsidizing the cost of ACTs but, Nartey said, stock-outs often prevent access to them.

“Most of the poor people use these cheaper, generic drugs and the disease comes back more intense,” he said. “Because it is quite intense they are ready to pay any amount and they pay the highest” when they go to the public hospital for treatment. Those who are willing to pay cash are taken care of first.

Nartey said public hospital staff generally prefer out-of-pocket payments to payment through health insurance. They rely on the cash to run the hospital, including buying medicine and other supplies. Part of the problem, he said, is that the government releases money to the hospitals each quarter, and there is often a funding shortfall until those payments become available.

RelatedNews

Nigeria, In The Twilight Zone, By Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú

Buhari greets Oshunkeye, 2006 CNN African Journalist of the Year, at 65

U.S. COVID-19 cases rise as more states ease restrictions

Chad’s President wins reelection, extending 30 years in power

When patients arrive at the hospital, there are two lines: one for those paying cash and one for those with health insurance. The longer that poor people have to wait to be treated, the longer they could be missing out on work, time away from their vending stall or other job trying to earn much-needed cash. Sometimes they will sell an asset, such as a farm animal or textiles, to acquire cash to pay for medical treatment.

Nartey said the average Ghanaian in the rural district where he conducted his research is likely to have malaria four times a year, equaling nearly $50 per year spent on malaria treatment.

“It’s really a big challenge,” he said.

TEXEM AD

In Ghana the minimum wage is less than $100 per month. In Nartey’s district there is an average of five people per household, and he said it is likely that four of the household members will come down with malaria three to four times a year, costing that household about $200 annually.

“Treatment of malaria alone is going to take 30-35 percent of household income per year,” Nartey said. “That’s a huge burden on the poor.”

He said the challenge is for the government to strengthen the health system in Ghana. One positive step, he said, would be to make ACTs consistently available, including at the private, local chemical shops.

“If they leave the health system the way it is now it is not pro poor,” he said.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Africa: Malaria – Keeping a Crafty Killer On the Run

Next Post

Eguavoen joins National League side, COD United, as Coach

allAfrica

allAfrica

More News

Gov Sanwo-Olu addressing the Lagos NBA

We have implemented JUSUN’s demands – Sanwo-Olu

April 20, 2021
Oba David Oyewumi, the Obadu of Ilemeso Ekiti.

Ekiti traditional ruler hospitalised after release by kidnappers

April 20, 2021
Senate plenary [PHOTO CREDIT: @NgrSenate]

Senate moves to create database for livestock

April 20, 2021
FILE PHOTO: President Muhammadu Buhari and deceased President Idriss Deby during his last visit to Nigeria [PHOTO CREDIT: @MIdrissDebyItno]

Buhari mourns Deby, keeps mum on Chadian army’s constitutional violation

April 20, 2021
Gov. Abdulazizi-Yari

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Zamfara governor, Yari, in EFCC custody, faces long interrogation session

April 20, 2021
8:57am: Voting commences at Olofu Polling Unit 012, Ayingba Ward.

INEC adjusts thresholds for creation of new polling units across Nigeria

April 20, 2021
Next Post
Eguavoen joins National League side, COD United, as Coach

Eguavoen joins National League side, COD United, as Coach

EPL Round up: Victor Moses absent in Chelsea’s 4-1 win

Europa League: Moses scores as Chelsea win away

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Explore Akwa Ibom Ad


Access Bank Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,654,679 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
    • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.