The healthcare challenges in Somalia are immense. The public healthcare sector struggles with limited resources and depends heavily on external donor support. The private healthcare, while growing, is unregulated and unable to meet the needs of a population seeking care for acute, chronic and complex health conditions. SIDRA Institute sought to examine the enabling and disabling factors of establishing a state-of-the-art private hospital in Puntland State, Somalia.
This research employed a mixed-methods approach, including secondary data analysis, surveys with 106 participants through snowball sampling, and 12 key informant interviews with healthcare practitioners and policymakers. The study mapped the healthcare landscape in Puntland, which is characterized by a fragile public health system and an under-regulated private sector, alongside a growing reliance on costly medical tourism for specialized care.
The study found critical deficiencies in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery, particularly in managing chronic and complex medical conditions. Approximately 31% of surveyed patients reported the unavailability of services locally, while 41% expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of care as a primary motivators for seeking treatment abroad. The economic implications are profound with the average cost of medical tourism exceeding $8,500 per patient.
The study further highlights inadequacies in diagnostic capabilities and specialized healthcare personnel in Puntland State, underscoring systemic barriers to dissatisfaction and utilization of healthcare. This study proposes the establishment of a private hospital which can bring modern, specialized medical services closer to home, offering an alternative to the costly and emotionally taxing journey abroad with special focus on workforce development, improvement of regulations, and ensuring reliable medical supplies.
The study concludes that a modern, private hospital has the potential to transform healthcare access and quality in Puntland State, an objective which is aligned with Somalia’s Health Sector Strategic Policy (HSSP II).
