Anticorruption in the Health Sector

Book excerpt: * Brief, readable field guide also suitable for classes in public health and development * Compelling case studies with best practices examples from Africa, Central Europe and South America Corruption is a serious problem for both rich and poor countries, threatening international development and eroding confidence in governments. In the health sector, corruption is literally a matter of life and death: facilities crumble when repair funds are embezzled; fake drugs flood the market with corrupt regulators managing supply, and doctors extorting under-the-table payments from patients fail to provide needed care. Most major development organizations have rewritten their anticorruption strategies in the last five years, hinting that reform is within reach. But these strategies pay little attention to incentives and capacity at the sector level. Those preparing to fight corruption in the health sector have very few resources to guide them until now. Anticorruption in the Health Sector brings practical experience to bear on anticorruption approaches tailored specifically to health. The contributors, all skilled practitioners, address the consequences of different types of corruption and show how agencies can more effectively address these challenges as an integral part of their development work. Both practitioner and classroom-friendly, this book finally addresses a neglected issue that has so much bearing on global health and governance.