A.J.

James
Healthcare Access in Nicaragua
The thing that makes the Clnica Alabama-Granada such a unique entity is definitely its
accessibility to the lower-income families of Nicaraguapatients pay the equivalent of 2 U.S.
dollars for their consults with the physicians in addition to all of their prescriptions filled in the
clinic pharmacy. Furthermore, surprising to U.S. culture, house calls are a viable alternative to a
trip to a clinic or hospital for Nicaraguans with the average house call costing around $40.
However, what is lacking for the country of Nicaragua are medical specialists, especially those
who deal with difficult chronic illnesses such as Parkinsons Disease and HIV/AIDS. These
patients, especially in the case of illness involving neuronal (brain) function, often try to seek
care in the United States, but quickly discover that they simply do not have enough money to
cover the costs of the trip and care. However, in general, the healthcare in Nicaraguafrom the
outside looking inis of decent quality and costs much less than what services would cost in the
U.S. and in Europe. Yet, contrastingly, a first-hand account of a public hospital in Nicaragua, in
which patients sat packed shoulder to shoulder waiting for doctors who seemed very much more
preoccupied with small talk than patient care, brings to question the level of patient care that
exists in the country in regards to physician compensation. (The theory goes that higher
physician salaries in the U.S. give physicians more incentive to maintain a high level of
healthcare services.) Undoubtedly, because the wealth of the country is concentrated in a few
cities, the best healthcare can be accessed in Managua, the capital. Interestingly enough, most
public hospitals in Nicaragua will not charge a patient for emergency services, but the patient
must still pay for any medication needed. But, conclusively, as noted in a Nicaragua Guide,
Describing health care in Nicaragua is like describing the weather in the United States; it
depends where you are talking about (http://www.nicaragua-guide.com). Overall it seems that
healthcare services in Nicaragua are fairly accessiblethe larger question is the question of
quality of care.