Patients' Perspective On Health Care In Nigeria- "The Doctor Is Not Available"

Bottom line- healthcare should be available!

Have you ever lied to your doctor?

Do you trust your doctor to understand your concerns and keep your secret?

Is your doctor hardly available when you NEED to see him?

In Nigeria, the patient's perspective on health care is centered on easy access to health care, good communication between the patient and the physician, convenience and an affordable cost for health services as recorded in an abstract by the African Journals Online.

Accessible health care is quality health care

The health care team should be ready and waiting for their patients all the time.

The case often seen in our hospitals is that the doctor is hardly available.

Patients do not appreciate long waiting hours or shortage of health care equipment and materials (vaccines and drugs for example).

The aged from the rural communities do not embrace the idea of going into the towns to access health care when they are sick.

Nurses with attitudes also hinder easy access to health care. 

Patients want to be sure that their doctor is listening. 

Effective communication is the most important aspect of any relationship.

The average time for a doctor and patient session is 12 minutes.

In this length of time, the patient makes his complaints, the doctor asks questions, finds out what the problem is and prescribes treatment.

In most cases when the time is less, the patient feels he does not have enough time to explain his experiences and feelings.

Often times the doctor is busy with scribbling on his notes to maximize time, making the patient feel neglected.

Patients want their doctors to be open and discuss their health problems and uncertainties with them.

They want to feel reassured that their doctor is actually listening to them.

This engagement is easier with eye contact and makes the patient feel important.

A patient wants to feel safe with the doctor. 

Every meeting with a doctor should be convenient for both the doctor and patient.

Privacy increases bonds between the physician and patient.

A third party in the room might lessen trust on confidential issues and reduce the ability of the patient to be honest with the doctor.

How much can the patient afford?

In Nigeria, the patient often resorts to self medication to lessen the financial burden of hospital bills .

A poor sick person desires to get well. This person does not expect the medications to be too expensive.

Where will he get the money from? The patient does not even want to pay for services not offered in full. 

Will healthcare delivery improve?

Results of a survey by the National Center for Biotechnology Information show that young patients, patients that spent less time waiting for the doctor, and patients with lower standards of education were more satisfied with the health care system.

What is your perspective on health care in Nigeria? Do you think it will improve?

Share your views in the comments section below!