Countries with the Worst Healthcare Conditions

The 2023 Legatum Institute report highlights countries grappling with significant healthcare struggles, emphasizing issues like poor health outcomes, low life expectancy, and limited access to basic medical services. The Legatum Institute, based in London, assesses global healthcare through its “Health pillar,” which evaluates public health, access to care, and health resources. Nigeria is notably ranked 11th in this report.

1. Central African Republic: Faces severe healthcare challenges, including limited access, a shortage of trained staff, and underfunded facilities. High rates of disease and inadequate maternal care contribute to one of the world’s lowest life expectancies.
2. South Sudan: Years of conflict have left the healthcare system in a critical state, with millions lacking basic services. There are few hospitals and clinics, coupled with shortages of supplies and trained personnel.
3. Chad: Struggles with extreme healthcare challenges due to a lack of clean water, poor nutrition, and limited medical facilities. Access to healthcare is particularly minimal in rural areas.
4. Lesotho: Experiences high rates of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, with weak infrastructure and limited access to quality medical services, particularly in rural regions.
5. Somalia: Political instability has severely impaired its healthcare system, leading to shortages of equipment and qualified professionals, especially outside major urban centers.
6. Sierra Leone: Despite some recovery since the Ebola crisis, it has some of the worst maternal and child health indicators globally, with ongoing underfunding issues.
7. Swaziland (Eswatini): Faces a public health crisis due to a high prevalence of HIV, with an underfunded healthcare system that struggles to treat infectious diseases effectively.
8. Liberia: Still recovering from civil war and an Ebola epidemic, it has limited access to quality healthcare, with high rates of infant mortality and infectious diseases.
9. Guinea: Struggles with inadequate resources, infrastructure, and a lack of qualified professionals. Disease outbreaks have further weakened access to essential services.
10. Angola: Despite its oil wealth, the healthcare system suffers from poor infrastructure and a shortage of skilled personnel, leading to high rates of malaria and maternal mortality.
11. Nigeria: Ranked 11th, Nigeria’s healthcare system is plagued by low funding, outdated infrastructure, and a significant brain drain of skilled health professionals, leading to insufficient care for an increasing patient load.
12. Equatorial Guinea: Although rich in oil, its healthcare facilities remain underresourced, with limited access to clean water and sanitation, particularly in rural areas.

Key Takeaways

The challenges faced by these countries are profound, characterized by inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and insufficient healthcare personnel. To improve health outcomes and provide essential care to millions, substantial investments and long-term infrastructure enhancements are critical.