Coronavirus outbreak could be the time to reset our health system as a country. The spread of the virus that has put a great strain on many economic,political,sporting and religious events is a testament to the challenge that the world faces due to mass movements across borders and seas.
Coronavirus has put on hold Liverpool lifting the English Premier League till later (if ever), in golf Masters wont be held in April and Saudi Arabia and the Vatican City have stopped many peoples spiritual journeys by banning gatherings and pilgrims from out of country. However, in Kenya it is just but one of many issues we have to contend with and least of all a movement in nothingness called BBI and invasion by locusts of biblical proportions (things for which I have no opinion of 😉).
On matters health care however, I would like to beg your indulgence as I explain how this is the best time to click Alt+Ctrl Del for our health system.
First of all,I had in a way foreseen impact of a virus of the same corona class way back in 2013 and briefly talked about its potential. So hear me as I give my take on the benefit of Coronavirus in Kenya.
Looking at the bigger picture,as we are responding to the fire of the Corona and its impact on the economic growth of our country and the world and livehoods of many in the populace, we might as well reclaim and rebuild a resilient health system or be doomed to pay for it with another cycle of unpreparedness next time another emerging virus appears.
The lessons we learn as we set to tackle the virus should be key in helping to put a new blueprint of an inclusive,equitable and affordable health system for all.
As it is, Kenyan health system has been almost on its deathbed with lack of investment by the state in improving the infrastructure or the capability in human resources and technological innovations without it becoming a scandal in the form of Medical Equipment Leasing or the Mobile Health Clinics. So whatever move the state makes in tackling the coronavirus would shape what to exect in the coming years and decade in health care in Kenya.
Currently the public facilities are hard pressed to ensure minimum working conditions and equipments in many places and so the only facilities to handle the Coronavirus patients who may be exhibit severe symptoms would be in the major cities of the country. As the Wards set up at Infectious diseases section of Mbagathi-Kenyatta National Hospital fill up there would a need to look back and ask how we can ensure the same can be handled at far flung areas of the country. Given that the world is interconnected very much, the next outbreak of an epidemic proportion could easily start from those far-flung areas and without the facilites and know-how could easily spread to Nairobi and traansmitted toanywhare in the world.
Government investment in healthcare
So far, in the early phases of this outbreak, government systems and protocols have been a key pillar to ensuring a reduction in mass infections and in essence reducing the burden on the curative services of those countries. South Korea has been largely able to contain community transmission flattening the curve of transmission and once the cases are detected a great surveillance system ensured timely testing and treatment for the severely ill with good outcomes. (Least Mortality rates for the most affected countries so far.). Its not suprising to note that South Koreans enjoy a Universal health coverage that is run by the Ministry of health and dynamically funded through a mandatory national health insurance scheme.) This way the motivation for better care and improved outcome is assured through no profit motive for those running it.
So we need to re-look at the current health system and the need to invest more in our public facilities. There has been an explosion of privatision of healthcare in this country and ever since it has taken the growth phase, even good people have started to lose their morals and become enmbedded with the vulture capitalists to create an American-modelled health system that seeks to put $$$$$ ahead of human life. The evils of neo-liberal capitalists out to reap
off the country and the most vulnerable in our society should be the tiping point of the
conversation on why you should demand better publicly funded and run health system.
When emergencies arise and you have a car accident on Mombasa Road,your private health insurance wont be of use. However if the public hospital at Makindu had a Trauma Centre that is well equipped and with the right personnel you might just make it out alive. Also when a pandemic is declared,remember the insurances have bolted on you and you will pay out of pocket for the care that you so much wish for and need.What more do you require to ask for a better public health system.?
To those who think a publicly funded health system in the form of NHIF as presently constituted is the answer, eat my shorts. And to those who think pouring public money to PPPs is the answer, eat your caviar in peace and set up your private facility without involving the public to fund your business.
The government needs to rethink the devolution of health service and how
to better create a seemless transition from one facility to another.
Other important aspects that the government need handle once it rethinks how to improve public health system would include.
- Investment in preventive approach to health. ( Which is what the initial aspect of handwashing would be all about.)
- Better procurement systems that reduces the cost of care.
- Availability of quality testing kits. (So do we have coronavirus testing at more facilties?)
#CoronavirusinKenya should be a turning point in our revival of public health system. If we fail to use this moment in history,we shall forever regret it. Lets do the right thing and seek improvement in publicly funded health system.
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