The cost of health care in Africa may rise, fueled by governments passing the burden of bridging health financing gaps to the public as the fallout from USAID’s withdrawal takes its toll.
From higher prices for basic health commodities to patients making out-of-pocket payments for services once covered by donor-funded systems to governments turning to external and domestic borrowing, Africa’s public health care sector is undergoing a painful reset.
Reports indicate that the price of condoms has risen in countries such as Zimbabwe, while in Nigeria and South Africa, donor-supported health services have closed — a trend experts warned could push patients to pay out of pocket to access care elsewhere.
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About the author
David Njagi
David Njagi is a Kenya-based Devex Contributing Reporter with over 12 years’ experience in the field of journalism. He graduated from the Technical University of Kenya with a diploma in journalism and public relations. He has reported for local and international media outlets, such as the BBC Future Planet, Reuters AlertNet, allAfrica.com, Inter Press Service, Science and Development Network, Mongabay Reporting Network, and Women’s Media Center.
