Micah Flint

A Healthcare Crisis…but not in the USA!

Prior to coming to Ghana I already had an opinion, of course the correct one, on US healthcare and this “crisis” that some talk about.   The real healthcare crisis is not in the US but in places like Nalerigu Ghana where everyone is eligible for the “healthcare scheme” that the government offers, the problems is will it pay out and the quality and access of medical care.  First, although there is a healthcare scheme it has no money so clinics and hospitals are still waiting to get paid from the “insurance” for care they provided 6-12 months ago.  Second, the quality of healthcare here is based on resources available, which are minimal.   Finally, access, for some it can take several days walk to the nearest clinic or hospital where you may wait 8-10 hours in the sun to be seen. 

Many of the patients here have lived with their illnesses for days, weeks, and sometimes years.  THIS IS A REAL HEALTHCARE CRISIS.

So to any of those politicians that read my blog, probably none, although there is room for improvement in the US healthcare system it is still far from crisis.  Furthermore, I wonder what the rest of the world thinks when they hear the news report “healthcare crisis in the US”…I can imagine they probably laugh.

Micah