Comments on: Margaret Chan: “the market does not solve social problems” http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/2009/04/margaret-chan-the-market-does-not-solve-social-problems/ Tales from the front line of our work to eradicate poverty worldwide. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:54:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom Fawthrop http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/2009/04/margaret-chan-the-market-does-not-solve-social-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-23807 Tom Fawthrop Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:25:25 +0000 http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/?p=1700#comment-23807 Dear Neil, The major source of free medical care in Africa, would appear to come from the myraid Cuban medical teams that provide extensive health-care in roughly 25 countries spread across all parts of Africa with a current total of some 2000++ medical staff. Has DFId ever considered that in the health sector that should work more closely with Cuba's efforts? Imagine how much more the Cubans could achieve if the poor country but rich in human resources could team up with the countries with the cash to enhance health rights across the continent.Cuba has made several offers in the past but not much response from western agencies. regards Tom Fawthrop Eureka Films director of TV documentary on the Cuban health system Dear Neil,

The major source of free medical care in Africa, would appear to come from the myraid Cuban medical teams that provide extensive health-care in roughly 25 countries spread across all parts of Africa with a current total of some 2000++ medical staff.

Has DFId ever considered that in the health sector that should work more closely with Cuba's efforts?

Imagine how much more the Cubans could achieve if the poor country but rich in human resources could team up with the countries with the cash to enhance health rights across the continent.Cuba has made several offers in the past but not much response from western agencies.

regards

Tom Fawthrop
Eureka Films
director of TV documentary on the
Cuban health system

]]> By: Albert http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/2009/04/margaret-chan-the-market-does-not-solve-social-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-21979 Albert Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:52:53 +0000 http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/?p=1700#comment-21979 Couldn't agree with you more with regard to Mozambique. This position just gets a little problematic when one exports it to other contexts without being sensitive to changes in circumstances. You would have seen the controversy around the recent Oxfam report, for example:http://michaelkeizer.com/humourless/2009/blindly-optimistic-or-blindingly-obvious/ regards Albert Open Budget Blog Couldn't agree with you more with regard to Mozambique. This position just gets a little problematic when one exports it to other contexts without being sensitive to changes in circumstances. You would have seen the controversy around the recent Oxfam report, for example:http://michaelkeizer.com/humourless/2009/blindly-optimistic-or-blindingly-obvious/

regards
Albert
Open Budget Blog

]]> By: Neil Squires http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/2009/04/margaret-chan-the-market-does-not-solve-social-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-20980 Neil Squires Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:13:17 +0000 http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/?p=1700#comment-20980 Thanks Albert. DFID's position is to support the governments policies, which at present in Mozambique include free services for mothers and children. We have done some work to look at the cost of extending free primary care services to all people and that may help. At present, the number of salaried workers in Mozambique is so low that National Insurance contributions would not add a huge amount to the health budget - but the primary objective is still to finance the health services from government revenue's as well as donor financing. Private health insurance schemes have not really been considered, as outside of the major cities there is little formal private sector health care to speak of - and to spend time developing an insurance scheme would possibly distract attention from the more immedate needs of identifying and addressing the barriers for poor people to access services. These barriers can include things like the cost of getting to a health facility. There are still some people in Mozambique who have to walk more than 50km to reach a health centre. Our approach is to help the government make decisions based on evidence of what work - and then to support government to implement its own policies. We try not to push any ideological position, but we do have a stong belief that cost should not be a barrier to accessing health care - so the principles which govern the UK's national health services, that it should be free at the point of use, shape our thinking. Best wishes Neil Thanks Albert. DFID's position is to support the governments policies, which at present in Mozambique include free services for mothers and children. We have done some work to look at the cost of extending free primary care services to all people and that may help. At present, the number of salaried workers in Mozambique is so low that National Insurance contributions would not add a huge amount to the health budget - but the primary objective is still to finance the health services from government revenue's as well as donor financing. Private health insurance schemes have not really been considered, as outside of the major cities there is little formal private sector health care to speak of - and to spend time developing an insurance scheme would possibly distract attention from the more immedate needs of identifying and addressing the barriers for poor people to access services. These barriers can include things like the cost of getting to a health facility. There are still some people in Mozambique who have to walk more than 50km to reach a health centre. Our approach is to help the government make decisions based on evidence of what work - and then to support government to implement its own policies. We try not to push any ideological position, but we do have a stong belief that cost should not be a barrier to accessing health care - so the principles which govern the UK's national health services, that it should be free at the point of use, shape our thinking. Best wishes
Neil

]]> By: Albert @ Open Budget Blog http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/2009/04/margaret-chan-the-market-does-not-solve-social-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-20962 Albert @ Open Budget Blog Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:02:25 +0000 http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/?p=1700#comment-20962 Thanks for the thought provoking post. Given the poor ability of many African countries to deliver on health and other social services - how useful is the market - government distinction? Can't National Health Insurance schemes and the like help engage the market in the delivery of health to the poor? Isn't delivery more important than one's ideological position on 'the market'? Albert Open Budget Blog Thanks for the thought provoking post. Given the poor ability of many African countries to deliver on health and other social services - how useful is the market - government distinction? Can't National Health Insurance schemes and the like help engage the market in the delivery of health to the poor? Isn't delivery more important than one's ideological position on 'the market'?

Albert
Open Budget Blog

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