The healthcare system is among the most vital sectors in any country since it maintains public health. Similarly to other fields, the healthcare domain relies on specific guidelines and principles, which are often regulated by specific agencies or the state. However, while in some countries, these principles are undeniably adhered to, in other nations, there are major shortcomings. In Ghana, the healthcare system faces significant crises due to extortions by the hospital personnel, a lack of free drugs, and denial of providing either simple or life-threatening treatments.
In the video provided by Stephen Nartney, several issues were emphasized. With governmental policies aimed at improving access to free or affordable care, extortions from the medical personnel followed. According to the narrator, those who suffer from serious injuries are denied basic care due to the inability to provide a sum of money (Stephen Nartney, 2013). Moreover, patients are required to pay for laboratory tests and buy medications, such as paracetamol (Stephen Nartney, 2013). This illustrates the corrupt system of the Ghanian healthcare system. Such issues can be resolved with more involvement of the authorities and legal measures which can punish the corrupt individuals. When comparing to the U.S., significant differences can be seen. For instance, every medical professional must comply with the Hippocratic Oath, and failure to do so can result in litigation or dismissal (Meskó & Spiegel, 2022). Moreover, every professional must abide by the law to provide every person with vital care (Schweikart, 2021). The only similarity between the two systems is government intervention in terms of policies aimed at making health care more affordable.
Hence, The healthcare system in Ghana faces an immense crisis as a result of hospital staff extortion, a shortage of free medications, and refusals to provide either basic or life-saving procedures. Extortions from medical professionals followed government programs intended to provide access to free or inexpensive treatment in Ghana. A lack of compliance in the context of the Hippocratic Oath and legal rights in Ghana differ significantly from the U.S. healthcare system.
References
Meskó, B., & Spiegel, B. (2022). A revised Hippocratic Oath for the era of digital health. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(9), e39177. Web.
Schweikart, S. J. (2021). How to apply the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act to promote health equity in the US. AMA Journal of Ethics, 23(3), 235-239. Web.
Stephen Nartney. (2013). Dying patients in search of basic healthcare in Ghana [Video]. YouTube. Web.