Required Resource Required Text Lovett-Scott, M., & Prather, F. (2014). Global health systems: Comparing strategies for delivering health services. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. · Chapter 14: The Healthcare System in Ghana Multimedia Nartey, S. (2013, June 24). Dying patients in search of basic healthcare in Ghana. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOk9kWTVU6c Recommended Resource Textbook PowerPoint Presentations Lovett-Scott, M., & Prather, F. (2014). Chapter 14: The Healthcare System in Ghana. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Week Five Standard Guidance The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gained independence from Belgium in 1960. Within a few weeks of independence, the country was plagued with personal and ethnic rivalries. After many years of civil war and unrest, the DRC finally passed a new constitution on February 18, 2006, and elected its own government, which offered the first opportunity for a stable democracy. The new government has established the following goals to meet the needs of its citizens: · Reduce child mortality · Combat HIV/AIDS rate, malaria, and other infectious diseases · Improve maternal health · Reduce incidence of tuberculosis The Democratic Republic of Congo has vast quantities of natural resources and the potential to provide financial stability through mining minerals (diamonds, copper, cobalt, and gold). However, the DRC is a severely indebted country with limited income due to years of war and mismanagement. Consequently, the Democratic Republic of Congo lacks the financial resources to fund the health care system at adequate levels. Health Care System The Ministry of Health (MOH) is a public health system based on the historical Belgian colonial public health system. The MOH is a policy and oversight organization comprised of subordinate organizations: · Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) · Institute of Biomedical Research (Institut National de Recherché Biomédicale, or INRB) · Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH) The KSPH trains physicians in public health and staffs the public health infrastructure composed of Health Zones. By 2001 the DRC reported there were three tertiary hospitals, eleven provincial hospitals, 306 general hospitals, and approximately 6,000 health centers across the country. Contrary to the common definition of tertiary hospital (a major hospital that provides a full complement of specialized services), a tertiary hospital in the DRC only provides rehabilitative care. While there are private hospitals and clinics in the DRC, they are reserved for individuals with the financial means to pay for services provided. The health system of the Democratic Republic of Congo is funded from three sources: the state budget (i.e., taxes), external contributions (private and charitable contributions), and fee for service payments. According to a report by Doctors without Borders (20 ...