By Dr Wahome Karanja, Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya, 08 February 2022-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- When Covid-19 struck, there was great concern that healthcare facilities around the world would be overwhelmed. The predictions for Africa were particularly dire. Fortunately, we didn’t witness the kind of devastation anticipated. But that doesn’t mean our healthcare systems didn’t suffer – often experiencing a range of hidden costs.
Take the Kenyan Ear, Nose and Throat Society, of which I am executive committee member, as an example. At the onset of the pandemic, the Society implemented strict guidelines for members. We had to double mask with N95 face masks which, being medical grade, are more expensive than regular face masks, and change gowns between patients. These decisions saved lives – but they also increased hospitals’ operational costs, which are now being passed on to patients in the form of higher healthcare prices.
Tragically, we have also lost…
Source: Guardian Newspaper
