Transforming Healthcare in Africa: A Comparative Analysis

The current available books and literature that shed light on health policies in many African countries are limited. Transforming Healthcare in Africa: A Comparative Analysis by Professor Robert Dibie examines the key players in the health system game in many African countries. It explores the regulatory regimes that impact the health systems, such as the Ministry of Health. It also provides few case studies of the relationship between the government, the environment, and their citizens. Apart from filling the gap in the healthcare policy in African literature, the authors also seek to examine the impacts of weak health policies and the inability to effectively formulate solid initiatives for capacity building that could lead to enhanced healthcare delivery for all their citizens. Thus, Dibie’s book provides evidence to inform scholarly discussion on the best approaches to strengthen healthcare delivery and public health capacity in many African countries. The book also sought to answer six research questions: (1) How is healthcare delivery perceived by African countries? (2) How are healthcare policies implemented in urban, and rural regions or local governments in African countries? (3) To what extent are current health services delivered to respond to all citizens’ needs in African countries? (4) What is the current capacity for rural or local governments to effectively engage in health service delivery? (5) How can citizens living in rural and urban regions be empowered in the health development delivery system? and (6) Which is the best evidence-based management system adopted to improve affordable healthcare system in many African countries?

The book also provides groundbreaking details of health care policy formulation and implementation in more than 20 countries in the African continent. It also vividly discusses the best practices in the functions and activities of the public health workforce and developed a framework for assisting African countries to assess and enhance the performance of their public health training institutions and health delivery workforce. Dibie’s methodological approach employs tapping into existing healthcare policies, analyzing the structure of bureaucracy, and providing insightful narratives. This book makes a significant contribution to the literature on African social crisis and sustainable development policies. The findings presented in this book will be especially useful to policy makers, public administrators, public policy analysts, readers, researchers, graduate and undergraduate students in health administration, business personnel, economists, health care nonprofit organizations, healthcare non-governmental organizations and healthcare advocates, and Development and Executive Leadership disciplines’ experts. It examines fluctuating prices in healthcare commodities such as drugs, hospitalization, X-ray and diagnosis of health issues, doctor’s office visit, nature and expansion of health regulation, privatization of hospitals, health plans or schemes, and quality control features in healthcare administration.

The book also provides examples and embedded content to help students and readers better appreciate the dynamic changes in healthcare delivery systems in many African countries. The various cases described in this book provide conceptual insights to better understand how healthcare administration in many African countries have not been able to effectively integrate sustainable policies to reduce death rate and increase life expectancy, crisis prevention and recovery, and sustainable development. It reviews the extensive literature on global health, health economics, environmental health and capacity building strategies, and regulation policies, as well as examines the implication of sustainable development of countries in the African continent. The chapters present a wide range of new dimensions and variables that are not considered by other books. Thus, it fills the gap in the health systems literature in Africa.

Robert Dibie, PhD, is vice provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Studies at Fort Valley State University. Over the past three decades, Professor Dibie has distinguished himself as a successful academic administrator, accomplished scholar, leader, and peace educator. He has published 12 books, 25 book chapters, and more than 120 research articles in peer-reviewed journals.