The market for healthcare in low-income countries

In this seminar at Stanford University's Walter H Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Centre as part of its 2023-24 Colloquium series, 'Technology, trust and healthy aging', professor Reshmaan Hussam of Harvard Business School and affiliate of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), presents her ground-breaking research which assesses the market for healthcare in low-income countries. She demonstrates that patient trust is an important driver of the demand for healthcare, highlighting data that suggests that fewer than 50% of cases are correctly managed, and 70-90% of expenditures are medically unnecessary due to incorrect treatment from healthcare providers. Her study also finds that a publicised training programme significantly raises quality of care among providers without changing their medical knowledge. This research reveals the powerful effects of low trust between healthcare providers and their patients, providing valuable insights for policymakers.