Researchers in Britain said the measures on the reduction of public spending called for by the International Monetary Fund, may have contributed to the rapid spread of the Ebola virus in three countries in West Africa region.
The researchers added that these economic measures have led to "a lack of funding and inadequate staff and the inability of health systems to respond to emergencies" in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
But the IMF denied the accusations, saying that expenditure on health sectors witnessed a rise in these countries between the years 2010-2013.
He said the main author of the study, Alexander Kintekanlis, "The main reason for the rapid spread of the Ebola epidemic is weak health systems in the region. It would be unfortunate not to pay attention to the underlying factors (behind what happened)."
According to the study, that the policies that were required reduction of government expenditure "applied very strictly, which led to the absorption of resources that could be allocated to respond to the pressing health challenges."
Said principal investigator told the BBC that "the imposition of the upper ceiling of the bills means that the countries (involved) can not recruit nurses and doctors in the health sector and pay adequate salaries to them."
The principal investigator said, "The International Monetary Fund's focus on the need to implement a decentralized health systems make it difficult to coordinate the response to health emergencies, such as the Ebola outbreak."
Said Lawrence King, a researcher last participated in the preparation of this study, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone countries completed the implementation of the recommendations of cash in 2013, just before the outbreak of Ebola.
He said study co-author said, but "all failed to raise expenditure on social sectors despite the urgent health needs."
This led to the Ebola epidemic has killed more than 7,500 people, most of them in the three countries mentioned.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire