This brief article lists the lowest-ranked countries in healthcare and highlights why these nations lag in providing their people with adequate healthcare. For a detailed analysis of the healthcare sector, read 25 Countries With The Worst Healthcare System.
8. Guinea-Bissau
Insider Monkey Score: 10.2
Political instability and a history of coups in Guinea-Bissau have siphoned off much-needed investment from the healthcare sector. Almost 70% of the population lives in poverty, struggling to afford treatment for tropical diseases like malaria and dengue. The scarcity of trained healthcare professionals and regular drug shortages also compromise the healthcare system’s efficacy.
7. Eswatini
Insider Monkey Score: 10
Eswatini, a nation of 1.19 million, directs 6.51% of its $4.7 billion GDP towards healthcare, a sum that falls short of needs. The country bears the weight of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rate, intensively taxing its healthcare resources.
6. Guinea
Insider Monkey Score: 9.6
The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak underscored the fragility of Guinea’s healthcare system and exposed gaps in surveillance and response capabilities. While current efforts to revamp the health sector are commendable, they are hampered by inadequate training, obsolete equipment, and limited rural coverage.
5. Lesotho
Insider Monkey Score: 8.7
Lesotho’s GDP totals around $2.5 billion, with 11.78% channeled into healthcare. Yet, the country’s health system remains overwhelmed by one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. Coupled with this, the prevalence of high-altitude-related illnesses means specialized healthcare is in short supply.
4. Somalia
Insider Monkey Score: 4.2
Somalia, with the 4th highest global poverty rate at 70%, dedicates a mere 1.3% of its $8.733 billion GDP to healthcare. Decades without centralized governance have resulted in sparse infrastructure, chronic medication shortages, and a widespread lack of trained medical professionals.
3. South Sudan
Insider Monkey Score: 3.8
South Sudan, where a staggering 76.4% of the population lives in extreme poverty, has a Global Health Index score of 21.3 out of 100. The nation is plagued by infectious diseases like malaria and kala-azar, yet faces a severe deficit of health facilities and professionals.
2. Chad
Insider Monkey Score: 3.1
Chad suffers from recurrent droughts and food shortages, leading to malnutrition that further complicates health outcomes. With limited resources (a GDP of $11 billion), there are few opportunities for medical training and infrastructure development, hindering the establishment of a robust health system.
1. Central African Republic
Insider Monkey Score: 2.8
The Central African Republic is just behind its neighbor, South Sudan, in terms of extreme poverty, and its healthcare system is the worst in the world. The sectarian conflict in the country has devastated medical facilities and displaced healthcare workers, resulting in limited resources for the government to improve the healthcare system. As CAR also contends with one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates (835 deaths per 100,000), the need for specialized obstetric care is paramount.
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