Geographical Discrepancies in Healthcare Accessibility within Sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre assessed the accessibility of healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using the UN's Degree of Urbanisation (DEGURBA) methodology, the research has shown a disparity between urban and rural healthcare facilities.
Healthcare Disparities in Sub-Saharan Africa
In urbanized areas in Sub-Saharan Africa - encompassing major cities and adjacent regions - the accessibility to healthcare is notably superior to that of rural areas. The research shows that 95% of the urban population resides within a 30-minute radius of a healthcare facility. This is largely attributable to the strategic allocation of resources and the robust infrastructure inherent to metropolitan areas, designed to serve a denser population.
Rural regions in Sub-Saharan Africa face contrasting scenario. In remote villages and dispersed rural areas, numbers go down to 65% of the population having a healthcare facility at a 30-minute distance. Of the remaining ones, 10-15% are over 3 hours away from any medical establishment.
More people in SSA are moving to cities faster than before. As more people head to cities looking for better chances, city healthcare services will face more pressure. At the same time, with fewer people living in rural areas, there might be less interest in improving the healthcare facilities there.
Urban Growth and Healthcare in SSA: Challenges and Opportunities
This study shows a clear gap in how easy it is to get healthcare in cities compared to the countryside. Cities are growing and need more resources, while rural areas need better facilities to make healthcare easier to access.
Another key issue is that the growth of cities is changing healthcare in SSA. As more people move to cities and fewer people live in the countryside, it’s important to make sure healthcare services change with this trend. Policymakers need to plan ahead and make sure everyone, no matter where they live, can get the healthcare they need.
Lastly, this study is telling organizations around the world that they need to work together to fix the healthcare problems in SSA. The UN has a method that can help figure out where the problems are – the Degree of Urbanisation. By working together using this method, it’s possible to make big changes and make sure everyone in SSA can get to a healthcare service, no matter where they live.
Background Information
The European Commission has long been working together with African partners. Other initiatives - not linked with this specific work - include the Africa Knowledge Platform, which features a layer dedicated to the electrification of healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
