The Economics and Improvisation of Aneasthetic Practice in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

It has been said that the development of surgery has been in tandem with the evolution of anaesthesia. The holds true the world over, except in some parts, where a lack of resources has hindered the growth of both specialties. Most of the work on the economics of anaesthesia in the developing world, especially in Africa has been by carried out by Western authors. As commendable and factual as they are, little work has been done in the West African Sub-region which consists, of about sixteen countries including the most populous nation in Africa, Nigeria. This study looks at economics of anaesthetic practice in a major country in the region and how improvisation has helped limit the number of expensive drugs needed for delivery of save anaesthesia while maintaining cost effectiveness. The cost of anaesthesia in Nigeria, as a percentage of total hospital cost is higher than that in most parts of the developed world, while the converse is true of total hospital cost in the developed world which is much higher.