Now, especially with the whole COVID-19 pandemic the world dealt with a few years back, it's become clear how having a solid healthcare system is crucial for a country and how it can impact the economy. The adage "health is wealth" has never rung more true.
When the world was hit hard, Africa felt the impact too, especially on its economy. We witnessed how different countries managed the situation better than others because of the strength of their healthcare systems.
However, healthcare challenges extend beyond the pandemic, and healthcare services provided by individual countries on the continent vary depending on their respective health systems.
The concept of a healthcare index has gained prominence over time as it helps countries figure out how good their healthcare systems are, what they're doing well, where they're not so great, and what needs fixing.
Getting good healthcare is a basic right and a key part of overall well-being in society. While some countries have made commendable strides in healthcare delivery, others grapple with limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and workforce shortages.
This inequality in healthcare access often leads to disparities in health outcomes among different populations.
A recent health index by Numbeo has identified the countries with the highest health index in Africa at the start of 2024.
The Health Care Index rates how good a healthcare system is. It looks at indices like healthcare professionals, equipment, staff, doctors, and costs. It gives you an idea of how well-equipped and resourced the healthcare is in a particular place.
Numbeo gathers its data through surveys conducted by visitors to its website. The survey questions are crafted to align with various scientific and government surveys.
A similar list was published last year, however, the current results indicate that some countries have improved while others haven't.
Below are the African countries with the best healthcare systems in 2024:
| 1. | South Africa | 64.0 | 49th |
| 2. | Kenya | 61.1 | 53rd |
| 3. | Tunisia | 57.0 | 71st |
| 4. | Algeria | 54.7 | 78th |
| 5. | Nigeria | 48.7 | 87th |
| 6. | Egypt | 47.5 | 89th |
| 7. | Morocco | 44.7 | 92nd |
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