Work of Hospitals: Global Medicine in Local Culture

Health care institutions face numerous challenges in meeting the needs of local populations due to neoliberalism and global austerity measures. This collection of ethnographies demonstrates how hospital administrators, clinicians, and other staff confront risks in delivering health care, such as civil unrest, poverty, disease, and supply chain instability. It highlights a vast gulf between the idealized mission of the hospital and its implementation in everyday practice, making hospitals "contested space" between policy and practice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

In the realm of neoliberalism and global austerity measures, healthcare institutions across the globe face numerous challenges in their endeavor to fulfill the needs of local populations. A comprehensive examination of this issue can be observed through examples from various regions, including Africa (with countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana, and the Congo), Latin America (with countries like Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala), Western Europe (with countries like France and Greece), and the United States. These examples highlight the crucial role that hospitals play in the social production of health and disease within the communities they serve.

However, many low-resource countries have witnessed a surge in privatization and dysfunction of public sector institutions, including hospitals, accompanied by a significant reduction in funding for non-profit organizations. At the core of the chapters in The Work of Hospitals lies a fundamental question: how do hospitals function when lacking the medications, equipment, and technologies typically considered essential? This collection of ethnographies provides a compelling insight into the challenges faced by hospital administrators, clinicians, and other staff as they navigate the complex terrain of delivering healthcare.

These challenges encompass a wide range of factors, including civil unrest, widespread poverty, the prevalence of endemic and epidemic diseases, and instability in the supply chain. Hospital administrators, clinicians, and staff must navigate these treacherous waters while simultaneously upholding their commitment to providing quality care to their patients. The Work of Hospitals serves as a poignant documentation of the vast gulf that exists between the idealized mission of hospitals and the realities of their implementation in everyday practice. As a result, hospitals emerge as "contested spaces" where policy and practice intersect, creating a complex web of challenges and complexities.

In conclusion, the chapters in The Work of Hospitals shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by healthcare institutions in the context of neoliberalism and global austerity measures. By examining the role of hospitals in the social production of health and disease, the book provides a valuable insight into the complex dynamics that shape healthcare delivery worldwide. It serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining public sector institutions, ensuring access to quality healthcare, and addressing the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to health disparities.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978823037