Healthcare and Corruption

As the world struggles to contain Covid-19, the pandemic has clearly exposed the weaknesses of health systems around the world. The rush to find drugs, vaccines and technology has created opportunities for lack of transparency and encouraged corruption in research and procurement.

The pressure caused by Covid-19 proves that corruption and lack of transparency in healthcare can mean the difference between life and death for citizens and healthcare workers.

Even before the pandemic, corruption in healthcare was an open secret. Every day, people face bribery to access healthcare, unknowingly take counterfeit drugs and are faced with wasteful or ineffective treatment.

It is estimated that 140,000 children die every year due to corruption in the health care systems. Corruption pervades every aspect of healthcare systems in the world and in BiH. Life-saving resources are dishonestly taken, clinical data for new drugs and health technology are not transparent, and procurement of supplies is subject to bribery and influence.

The annual amount of health care funds stolen each year is more than enough to achieve universal health coverage for all – a key commitment of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, seeking to provide affordable and quality health care for all.

Of the $7.5 billion spent on healthcare each year, $500 billion is lost to corruption. That is why fight against corruption in healthcare is crucial if the world wants to effectively respond to current and future global health threats and provide quality healthcare for all.