Each year end is always an occasion to look back and do an assessment. Health
wise, what had happened in Haiti? Were Haitian patients better off in 2012 than in 2011? Had health care quality shown any improvement? Had clinics,
health centers, and hospitals provided better care in 2012 than in
2011? These questions and many others are necessary to have a sense of where we
have been in 2012 and where we are now, at the dawn of 2013.
1)
Preventive care: Grade F (failed) – Basic health
screenings, such as mammograms, pap tests, and colonoscopies are still accessible
only to a few.
2)
Primary care: Grade C (average) – Care is available
but not affordable to all patients. Some patients look for places where they
can get the best deal (free or very low cost care), which results in sketchy
care. Relief or urgent care is still the norm (people seek care only when they
are sick—preventive care is neglected).
3) Tertiary care:
Grade C- (less than average) – HUEH, the state university hospital, is under
construction, barely. Some great news: The brand new teaching hospital in
Mirebalais, the Bienfaisance Hospital in Pignon, and various urgent care centers
throughout the country. Patients with complicated conditions, surgical
diagnoses, or complex traumas still face an uphill battle to get affordable
quality care. Hopefully, in 2013 HUEH will resume some of its services.
4) Available
specialties: Grade C- (less than average) -- The January 12 quake had sent
abroad most of our specialists. Many of them are still out of the country. On
the other side, few of our young graduates get the opportunity to pursue a
specialization. In 2013, the Mirebalais teaching hospital will bring some
relief to the lack of specialists.
5)
Health insurance program for the poor: F (failed)—so far,
the government had said nothing about developing a health insurance program for
the poor. Let’s hope that in 2013, government officials, senators, and deputies
will begin talking about a state-sponsored universal health insurance in Haiti.
In
conclusion, besides the bright spots, such as the Mirebalais teaching hospital,
nothing major had occurred in 2012 in providing affordable quality care to
Haitians.
At the
Repheka clinics, we had provided medications free of charge throughout 2012.
However, starting this January, we’ll ask for a co-pay of 10 gourdes—less than a
quarter ($0.25) per medication filled. And of course, those who cannot really
afford the co-pay will get their meds free of charge. Therefore, in 2013, our
service will still be accessible to most of our patients.
In 2012 we
have cared for over 20,000 patients. In 2013, we plan to provide affordable
quality health care to even more patients and families. Therefore, please
support our work in Haiti. To do so, please go to
Thanks and Happy New Year!
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