Source: World Health Organization

World Health Organization - Country Information [ID 22193]

Information on diseases, health expenditures, health care provision and coverage, health system organisation and regulation, human resources in the health sector and statistics. Languages: English, Arabic, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian

Document(s): Open document

Source: World Health Organization

World Health Organization - Statistical Information System [ID 22194]

Select Guinea from the country list.

Document(s): Open document

Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

UN OCHA - Humanitarian Country Profile [ID 22196]

This profile contains information on peace and security, IDPs and refugees, democracy and governance, media, economy, population, education, children, health, HIV/AIDS, food security, gender issues and human rights. Language: English

Document(s): Open document

09.06.2008 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Article on bribery and other hidden costs for patients in public hospitals ("“We’ll treat you, if you pay the bribe,” doctors say") [ID 24112]

Document(s): Open document

12.2007 - Source: Directory of Development Organizations

Guide to international organisations, government institutions, private sector development agencies, civil society organisations, universities, grant-makers, banks, microfinance institutions and development consulting firms ("Directory of Development Organizations; Edition 2008; Volume I.A; Africa; Guinea") [ID 22191]

Document(s): Open document

09.2007 - Source: US Social Security Administration

Overview of social security system (old age, disability and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; family allowances) ("Social Security Programs Throughout the World") [ID 22192]

Document(s): Open document

2007 - Source: International Organization for Migration

Access to health centres; costs and availability of treatment and drugs ("Information on Return and Reintegration in the Countries of Origin – IRRICO; Guinea") [ID 22184]

"The government has created health centres in the urban and rural areas in order to have access to a better medication at the least cost on the largest possible scale. There are still badly covered areas (enclosed areas where access is difficult) in localities deep within the regions, where needs are often felt more intensely.

In spite of certain negotiated grants, the patients are obliged to pay themselves for their medical treatment. It must also be noted that there is no medical insurance system for patients barring taking out one of the private insurances.

Basic generic medicines are frequently available in the health centres.
It must be noted that amongst everything else, the medicines are very expensive, because they are not subsidised in Guinea, due to the fact that the pharmacies and other specialist hospices are obliged to import in currencies, the price of which varies every day on the sale or purchase in the bureaux de change.

[...]

There are health centres or health stations in the town centres, the CRDs and districts of the country, but the accessibility of the centres locations is difficult for the populations living in the most distant villages. Donka Hospital remains the best option.
The only way of obtaining medical insurance in Guinea is to take out private insurance, and it is not guaranteed that the private insurance will cover people who are already ill."

Document(s): Open document

22.11.2006 - Source: World Health Organization

Statistical data on country health system (demographic and socioeconomic statistics, mortality and morbidity statistics, information on behaviour and environmental risk factors, human resources and health services coverage) ("Country Health System Fact Sheet 2006") [ID 22170]

Document(s): Open document

04.04.2006 - Source: World Health Organization

Shortage of health service providers (doctors, nurses and midwives) ("Online Q and A - Do most countries have enough health workers?") [ID 22197]

See also Chapter 1 (Health workers: a global profile) of World Health Report 2006. According to Annex 4 of World Health Report 2006 (Global distribution of health workers in WHO Member States) Guinea had 0.11/1000 physicians, 0.55/1000 nurses and 0.01/1000 midwives (a total of 0.67/1000 health care professionals) in the year 2004.

"[...] Thirty-six countries in Africa are confronting critical shortages, meaning they have fewer than 2.3 doctors, nurses and midwives per 1000 people. These countries are unable to provide basic, life-saving services in a consistent manner. For example, they generally fail to achieve an 80% coverage rate for measles immunization or the presence of skilled birth attendants. [...]"

Document(s): Online Q and A - Do most countries have enough health workers?

23.01.2006 - Source: ReliefWeb

Access to health services remains a concern; lack of medicine and other medical supplies ("UNICEF Humanitarian Action Report 2006 (UNICEF)") [#50381],  [ID 22187]

"Access to health services remains a concern due to the limited capacity of health centres, health posts and other facilities in most areas. Lack of medicine and other medical supplies is very common, partly because medical services have not been subsidized by the government since 2004."

Document(s): Open document

07.09.2005 - Source: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Public and private health facilities ("Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic reports of States parties; Guinea [CEDAW/C/GIN/4-6]") [ID 22199]

"The health care pyramid consists of:
· Two national hospitals.
· Four regional hospitals.
· 29 prefecture hospitals.
· Six health centres.
· 376 health centres [sic].
· 402 operational health posts.

The private medical sector currently consists of 18 medical and surgical clinics, eight polyclinics, two company hospitals, 49 doctor’s offices, 13 dentist’s offices, and 16 midwifery offices. In the pharmaceutical and biomedical sector there are nine pharmaceutical wholesalers, 12 medical promotion agencies, 236 private offices (of which 70 per cent are in Conakry), 40 points of sale distributed among prefectures of the interior, and 10 biomedical analysis laboratories."

Document(s): State report
Concluding observations of 10 August 2007 [CEDAW/C/GIN/CO/6]

07.09.2005 - Source: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Human resources in health sector ("Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic reports of States parties; Guinea [CEDAW/C/GIN/4-6]") [ID 22200]

"The Ministry of Health employs a total of 6679 workers including care personnel (82.2 per cent) and support personnel (17.8 per cent). Women account for 52.1 per cent (3481) of health workers, while men account for 47.9 per cent (3198).

Women are particularly predominant in the city of Conakry, where the male/female ratio is 0.4, and in the administrative region of Kindia (0.7). Nationwide, the male/female ratio is 0.92.

The ratio of health workers to population is relatively favourable in Guinea, except for midwives, whose numbers are glaringly inadequate:

· One physician for every 3304 inhabitants.
· One midwife for every 20,535 inhabitants.
· One health assistant for every 5366 inhabitants.
· One health technician for every 2734 inhabitants."

Document(s): State report
Concluding observations of 10 August 2007 [CEDAW/C/GIN/CO/6]

07.09.2005 - Source: UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

Constraints of health care system ("Consideration of reports submitted by States Parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic reports of States parties; Guinea [CEDAW/C/GIN/4-6]") [ID 22204]

For more information on actions, achievements and programmes in the health sector see pages 51 to 64 of the state report.

"· Poor accessibility of health facilities and services.
· Low use of health services.
· Inadequate health care coverage.
· Poor distribution of personnel.
· Lack of recruitment and redeployment plans, career plans, and plans for improving staff living conditions.
· Facilities and equipment are not adapted to needs.
· The public system for procurement, distribution and management of pharmaceutical products is weak.
· Weak mobilization of internal resources.
· Weak development of internal resources.
· Weak development of mechanisms for sharing health risks.
· Weak community participation.
· Inadequate supply of care services.
· Poor hygiene conditions.
· Lack of coordination and cooperation among partners in the field.
· Family poverty.
· Inadequate efforts to change behaviour among the population.
· Persistence of harmful sociocultural factors (early marriage and pregnancy, female genital mutilation, nutritional taboos)."

Document(s): State report
Concluding observations of 10 August 2007 [CEDAW/C/GIN/CO/6]

15.09.2003 - Source: Institut für Afrika-Kunde

Health system "totally inadequate"; issue of financing of treatment is unsettled for most people; treatment of osteomyelitis and PTSD therefore likely to be impossible in case of return ("Stellungnahme vom 15.9.2003 an VG Potsdam - 4 K 756/02.A -") [#22960],  [ID 22540]

Document(s): Open document

23.04.2002 - Source: World Health Organization

WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health on minimum level of financing needed to cover essential interventions ("Report of the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health; Report by the Director-General [A55/5]") [ID 22195]

Compare with Annex 3 of World Health Report 2006 (Selected national health accounts indicators: measured levels of per capita expenditure on health, 1999–2003).

"A minimum level of financing needed to cover essential interventions, including HIV/AIDS, of between US$ 30 to US$ 40 per capita contrasts with actual levels of spending in the order of US$ 13 per person in the least developed countries and US$ 24 in other low-income States."

Document(s): Report of the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health; Report by the Director-General [A55/5]