Title: The challenge of healthcare accessibility in sub-Saharan Africa: the role of ideas and culture

Authors: Ishmael Wireko; Daniel Béland

Addresses: Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, 101 Diefenbaker Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B8, Canada ' Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, 101 Diefenbaker Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B8, Canada

Abstract: As Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries continue to search for ways to improve access to government-provided healthcare services, it is imperative that they consider the role of cultural ideas when dealing with accessibility issues. As argued in this paper, the weight of indigenous cultural ideas is a major challenge as far as healthcare accessibility is concerned. The paper identifies China as a country that has achieved successes at integrating traditional medicine to improve access to modern healthcare. Hence, as claimed, SSA countries should draw lessons from the experience of China in integrating their traditional and allopathic medical systems.

Keywords: cultural ideas; culture; healthcare accessibility; China; sub-Saharan Africa; traditional medicine; indigenous peoples.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2013.052852

European Journal of International Management, 2013 Vol.7 No.2, pp.171 - 186

Published online: 10 Sep 2014 *

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