Medical practice in the face of economic meltdown: peculiar challenges in Nigeria and other developing countries.
BACKGROUND
The impact of the global economic meltdown on every sector of economic activity has been enormous, especially in the developing countries. Medical practice in these nations has been particularly challenged and stretched under this milieu. This paper thus sets out to evaluate the phenomenon of economic meltdown with its effects on the developing countries, the challenges it poses to medical practice, with Nigeria as a case study, and makes suggestions to address this scenario.


METHODS
A review of the literature on economic meltdown with particular emphasis on the effect on medical practice, was done, with focus on the developing countries, and specifically Nigeria. Literature search was conducted using the Medline, Google search engine, the media, as well as national and localjournals.


RESULTS
The definition and historical perspectives of global economic meltdown, as well as the geographical location of the developing countries, are set out. The peculiar economic challenges and those in the medical practice, with the concomitant glaring effects in the developing nations, with particular reference to the Nigerian situation, are outlined. Specific measures to adopt in addressing these challenges are suggested in this paper.


CONCLUSIONS
The peculiar challenges of the global economic meltdown on medical practice in the developing world, and in Nigeria particularly, must be addressed wholisticaly involving every sector of the economy, with fundamental policy and structural changes put in place.
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Department of Medicine, University Of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria. sobiajuluike@yahoo.com
D003906:Developing Countries; D004470:Economics, Medical; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria