Obstacles to the Provision of Healthcare Services

Abstract

The central aim of this chapter is to analyse the impact institutions have on the performance of the health sector in Mozambique. The chapter demonstrates that institutions play a central role among the social determinants of health – and, through it, on economic and social development – particularly for the poorer and more vulnerable, such as children, women, the disabled, and the elderly. It is also argued that the deficiencies and inefficiencies of the operation of the health sector are largely the result of the fact that institutions with influence on the health sector are controlled by a minority of privileged people, who do not give the appropriate priority to the basic health needs of the majority of the population. Finally, it is argued that the most important measures for improving the state of health of Mozambicans are the revision of the Constitution of the Republic, and the strengthening of the National Health System (particularly the National Health Service) alongside the social contract, reducing poverty and economic and social inequality.