141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

275397
A review of the literature on the current state of health care payment models in the economic community of west African states (ECOWAS)

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 5:20 PM - 5:30 PM

Tolu Oyelowo, MS, DC , Department of Health Promotion and Wellness, Northwestern Health Sciences University, Bloomington, MN
Objective: To assess the current health care payment models in West Africa as a measure of the feasibility for the expansion of chiropractic practice in the region. Design: A systematic literature review Methods: We conducted electronic searches from 1995 – 2012 using PubMed and African Journals Online (AJOL) to identify studies on health care utility and payment structures in West Africa. Results: There are broad socioeconomic disparities in all of the assessed countries and access to the best health services are reserved for the wealthy. Several countries have adopted health care compensation models that enable low and middle income residents to gain access to health care at no or minimal cost; however none of these models includes chiropractic care. Utility and outcomes are varied and dependent on such factors as co-payments, fees, availability of health care providers, material resources and community education. Cultural factors such as willingness to pay and bidding for services have some influence. Some countries are adopting national health insurance policies, while others have elected to advance health maintenance organizations and private insurance. Chiropractors and chiropractic institutions seeking to expand to West Africa should anticipate working in an environment in which patients with limited means will be expected to pay out of pocket or use some type of barter arrangement to cover the costs of chiropractic services.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Program planning
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Define the current state of health care compensation in the Economic Community of West African States Assess health care accessibility in West Africa

Keywords: Access and Services, Universal Coverage

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a professor of health promotion, women’s health and public health studies. Among my scientific interests are to enhance understanding of the multiple and complex reasons for health disparities
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.