This is a revelation in a published Oxfam investigation on Development Finance International (DFI) funding into private hospital chains and other for-profit healthcare corporations operating in low and middle-income countries including in Africa. 

Anna Marriott, Senior Policy Advisor at Oxfam International and author of the report, says during the investigation and findings they came across horrific cases. 

“The report finds that billions of dollars in development funds that should make sure that people living in poverty have access healthcare is actually instead prompt into expensive out-of-reach private hospitals in lower income countries.

“It has usually either bankrupt patients or blocked access or violate rights or patients who can't afford to pay. We found horrific cases in Kenya as thousands of patients are imprisoned and held hostage in a Kenyan hospital because they were not able to pay that bill.

“This includes cases where a newborn baby has been held for 3 months and even a secondary pupil has been captive in a hospital for 11 months. We had multiple cases across the board being out of reach and expensive”, said Marriott in an exclusive interview with Channel Africa.

--ChannelAfrica--