Guinea Medical and Health Points

Guinea’s healthcare infrastructure is extremely underdeveloped, which is of particular concern in light of the recent outbreak of Ebola across West Africa. The national government only spent 6.3 percent of its 2012 GDP on health expenditures as opposed to the global average of 10.2 percent for the same year. In a 2012 national Gallup survey, 78 percent of Guineans surveyed stated they were dissatisfied with the quality of available healthcare. A prime example is the Donka National Hospital, the largest medical center in Guinea, which is constantly plagued by a lack of steady electricity, water, and proper sanitation. Additionally, 82 percent of respondents say they were unable to pay for medicine and 77 percent were unable to afford necessary medical expenses. Medically-trained individuals staff the small number of government hospitals and private clinics located throughout the country. There are medical dispensaries located in every district of Guinea, however the highest concentrations and typically the best stocked facilities are found within Conakry. Due to certain beliefs, the cost prohibitive nature of western medicine, and lack of facilities, traditional healers using herbal treatments, magic, and counseling to treat patients are still prominent.