Empowering Healthcare Leaders: Advancing Management in Africa

Tired of Reading? Please listen to the blog

---

---

Africa, Building Capacity in Healthcare Administration

According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) (World Bank Group), the healthcare system in the African continent is in bad shape. It says that governments of most African countries cannot even afford to spend $40 per person annually. $40 is considered the minimum essential per capita expense for keeping healthcare in proper shape as per the World Health Organization (WHO) norms. Poverty is rampant in Africa, and at least fifty percent of the population depends on money from individuals to meet expenses related to their health. [Source: https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/healthafricafeature]

Current Healthcare Scenario in Africa, IFC Assessment

Substandard hospitals, the severe shortage of qualified medical personnel, and poor infrastructure are the primary reasons that contribute to Africa’s owes. IFC has determined that in the next decade, Africa will need $30 billion worth of investment to keep its healthcare system up and to run. It anticipates that as Africa’s economy expands, so will the demand for high-quality healthcare. 

According to a new report from IFC, Africa’s healthcare demand will require $25-$30 billion in new investments over the next decade. Lars Thunell, Executive Vice President and CEO of IFC, says that all essential players in Africa’s healthcare system must be leveraged and integrated with the public methods to help the continent’s population access quality healthcare at affordable prices. 

Ample Opportunities for Doctors, Nurses, Healthcare Educators & Administrators

The private sector healthcare operators have a 50% share in the healthcare market of Africa, according to IFC. Private operators’ share is growing phenomenally in a market that has the potential to add half a million additional hospital beds in the coming decade. 

It will result in a significant increase in the production and distribution of medicines and supplies. In addition to physical investment, African governments will have to add an estimated 90,000 doctors, 500,000 nurses, and 300,000 paramedical workers to their present strength. 

For enterprises and businesses, meeting healthcare demands can prove profitable even as the burden on governments lessens. The IFC believes that small and medium-sized enterprises are well-positioned to take advantage of this opportunity. The popular belief is that 50% of the projected investment will come from for-profit, non-profit and private organizations. 

Building Capacities, Educators, Paramedics, Healthcare Administrators

To build capacities in the healthcare sector, African countries and people must encourage their students to focus on acquiring medical and healthcare-related education. It will bring down the continent’s dependence on healthcare workers from abroad. 

More educators (teachers, professors, trainers) are critical for producing a big pool of paramedics. At the core are healthcare administrators whose jobs coordinate the working of different segments of the healthcare delivery system. Building the infrastructure is easy, but investing in human resources development is complex. Healthcare administrators’ jobs are critical and play a pivotal role in advocacy, defining objectives, and authoring action plans. 

If you have a postgraduate degree in a relevant field and an acceptable level of professional experience, you should consider joining a PhD program in healthcare administration. You will be doing an excellent service to the people of Africa with the knowledge and education you will receive during your study. 

What do Healthcare Administrators Do?

The administrator’s role is vast and expansive. Their responsibilities include work allocation, scheduling surgeries, patient billing, safe disposal of medical wastes, compliance with laws and regulations, providing proper training to recruits, interacting with doctors and nurses, and budgeting hospital expenses. At the bottom of the job spectrum, healthcare administrators work in hospitals run by private or health departments of the government. 

Based on the healthcare facilities and the hospital’s specialties, healthcare might manage an entire hospital or a single department. Insurance laws and claim processing involving insurance companies must be known to them. They also testify in court in accident cases. In short, you can expect healthcare administrators to understand medicine, surgery, and some laws. 

Getting an Online PhD in Healthcare Administration, How to

You can get a PhD in healthcare administration in three ways.  

1. Join a traditional campus that offers PhD programs in healthcare administration. Join a part-time campus program for PhD in Healthcare Administration
2. Join an Online PhD Healthcare Administration program

If you have a job and don’t want to upset your income stream, then the Online PhD healthcare administration should be your preferred way. It offers a high degree of flexibility, and at the same, it is also comparably inexpensive. 

To do an Online PhD healthcare administration program, you must join an institution with a good track record and reputation. It must have highly qualified and experienced faculty and good experience delivering education using the internet. Aspiring PhDs should contact a counselor at the university and get all their doubts cleared. 

Six questions to ask your program director.

1. Is my current postgraduate qualification recognized? If not, can I request the offering university to approve it? 
2. How long will it take to complete the Online PhD healthcare administration, and will I get an extension if needed? 
3. Will I get a dedicated mentor to guide me throughout the program? Will I have to pay for their services and the fee I pay the university?
4. How many hours should be required studying for an average person to get a doctorate successfully?
5. Is the university’s Online PhD award recognized in major countries? 
6. Are online PhD students required to attend a prescribed number of campus classes? Is a timetable given to students in advance?

Prospective students are encouraged to verify that there are no hidden costs. Some hidden fees can prove to be disastrous to you financially. If you have advance information, you can prepare for it. 

Research may require travel, seminars, and participation in a few events. You must therefore be ready to pay for those expenses. In some cases, African governments will pay for your education for capacity building in their countries. You may be able to find a few sponsors who may be willing to pay for your doctorate education. 

PhD Healthcare Administrators Pay, Perks

Once you have completed your PhD in healthcare administration, you will experience a big difference in how your employers treat you. You will feel exalted and be a much sought-after person for top positions. The focus of PhD programs is not always to research, and not necessarily everyone ends up as a scientist. 

Many take to teaching and accepting business administrator roles in a healthcare-related venture. PhD is also an ornamental role, and your presence in business ventures can help to convince investors to raise money. 

Where to do an Online PhD healthcare administration Program?

One of the reasons why aspiring postgraduates don’t do their PhD is to find a university nearby. The internet has changed all this. Wherever you are domiciled, online learning institutions are assessable because the rules for admission are relaxed. Anyone enthusiastic person who is committed to getting a doctorate can do it. 

Taksha SmartLabz is a great place to do PhD programs in healthcare administration. Taksha SmartLabz offers the program in collaboration with the University of Central Nicaragua (TSL – UCN). Visit their website to find out more about the program. Next, inquire by sending an email or contacting directly from the website. Every step is self-explanatory. If you have a query, you can get a counselor. 

Help to make Africa a healthy continent by becoming a PhD healthcare administrator – Join today.