Overseas remittances support universal health coverage and quality of healthcare

Abstract

Prof Dr Mirjam van Reisen, Dr. Mia Stokmans, Wenqing Yin,

Tilburg University

mirjamvanreisen@gmail.com M.J.W.Stokmans@uvt.nl wenqingy.yin@gmail.com Title: Overseas Remittances supportUniversal Health Coverage and Quality of Healthcare Background: Overseas remittances are animportant resource for financing of healthcare services in low-incomecommunities. Financial support by extended family affect interactions athealthcare facilities. They are crucial for the attainment of SustainableDevelopment Goal 3. Literature review suggests that remittance-flows havepositive impact on the quality of health care; clients are part of socialnetworks and remitters are active influencers in such networks. Remittersengage in the situation the patient is facing. Methods: We test a remitter-inclusiveapproach to information-sharing in healthcare. We investigate how this sharing increasesthe decisions on healthcare services. We hypothesize that sharing ofinformation contributes to a more positive Western-oriented health orientation,also in Africa. Results: Healthcare is rarely an individualaffair. Langen[1]described a paradigm clash of Western healthcare with traditional Africanapproaches. Hence, bridging of health care paradigms is important. Remitters,living overseas, are immersed in the context of Western-based health care. Theyrefer to their understanding, experience and knowledge of such care. Remittersthat contribute directly to the patient’s challenge are influential. They are trustedsources of information. Their knowledge augments local information sources. Inthe process of sending remittances for health, relatives in the diaspora discusshealth-issues within social groupings. Experiences, expectations, and health-relatedinformation are exchanged. These exchanges shift attributed values and communalattitudes towards the health-services and the local knowledge base of thehealth-challenges at hand. Conclusions and Recommendations: Involvementof overseas remitters in information exchange on options of patients canimprove the quality of the decision-making and their remittances can contributeto expand health-coverage and quality of healthcare. Keywords: training,HR4H, eHealth [1] Langen, Eveline. 2010. Diverging Worldviews, Diverging Worlds?Wageningen University.