Overcoming barriers

From a medical perspective, the majority of current health problems in poor countries can be controlled. Effective preventive and curative treatments are available, most of them at reasonable prices.

A great deal can be done to improve access to healthcare, with action focusing on five key factors:

• Quality of care: the competence and performance of healthcare professionals, the guidelines in force and the facilities available and their capacity (including electricity, water, sanitation, cleaning and maintenance services)
• Availability: the availability of diagnosis as well as drugs, trained healthcare professionals and health infrastructure
• Acceptability (of treatment): cultural factors that determine the perceived causes of symptoms and the readiness to use appropriate drugs
• Accessibility: physical accessibility of health facilities
• Affordability: the direct and indirect costs to the patient or the community, allowing for flexibility in reimbursement and considering available resources