Somaliland's Healthcare Crisis: Profiteering Plagues a Struggling System, Driving Up Costs and Eroding Efficiency

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“He gave me medicine, and when I poured it into her eyes, both of them fell out”. A mother says while holding her blind daughter's shoulder during a debate on MM TV.

The provision of healthcare in Somaliland stands at a critical juncture, where the ease of establishing clinics and pharmacies has led to a concerning laxity in ensuring the quality and safety of medicines. The repercussions of this oversight have tragically affected individuals like Asma, a young girl left blind due to the callousness of an unscrupulous clinic owner.

The privatization of healthcare services, while aiming for accessibility, has resulted in an unchecked influx of substandard medications. The blatant admission by certain suppliers that quality medicines remain financially out of reach for many only compounds the issue, causing widespread health hazards. These falsified and inadequate drugs contribute to dire consequences: poisoning, untreated diseases, premature deaths, and therapeutic failures afflict the populace.

Moreover, the system’s flaws extend beyond medicine quality to encompass the healthcare infrastructure itself. Patients face financial barriers, with advance payments being the sole gateway to medical attention, even in life-threatening situations. This financial strain restricts access to healthcare, especially for the marginalized, perpetuating a cycle of suffering.

Compounding these challenges are inherent flaws within the system. Diagnostic procedures, instead of being genuinely informative, are often oriented toward generating revenue for clinics, disregarding the actual health needs of patients. Prescription practices, coupled with obligatory pharmacy purchases, further erode trust and safety, epitomized by illegible prescriptions that endanger patients' lives.

The dire consequences of these systemic failures have far-reaching implications, with citizens resorting to seeking medical care in neighboring countries, leaving the most vulnerable segments of society to bear the brunt of inadequate healthcare.

The heartbreaking case of Asma serves as a stark reminder of the human toll of this healthcare crisis. Her traumatic experience, coupled with the lack of accountability and justice, underscores the urgency for a systemic overhaul.

It is unequivocally incumbent upon the government to take decisive action. Strengthening regulatory frameworks for healthcare facilities, licensing medical professionals, instituting stringent quality checks for imported medications, and ensuring accountability for malpractice are paramount. Moreover, investments in technology for drug quality assessment are indispensable steps toward restoring faith in the healthcare system.

The Ministry of Health’s imperative lies in conducting comprehensive research to quantify the scope of harm inflicted by substandard drugs. This entails not only assessing immediate poisoning but also recognizing the insidious long-term effects on public health, including developmental issues, birth defects, and drug resistance.

The time for action is now. Protecting the well-being of citizens demands a concerted effort to rectify systemic flaws, ensuring that healthcare in Somaliland becomes a bastion of safety, reliability, and accessibility for all, irrespective of their socioeconomic status. The legacy of Asma’s tragedy must be a catalyst for change—a commitment to a healthcare system that truly serves and safeguards its people.






 

Yousef Timacade is lawyer, legal analyst and commentator. He has a master's degrees in law and executive management, and has been working with national and international non governmental organizations for the last ten years in the areas of program management, research, and human rights.

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