Contextualizing Corruption in the Health Sector in Developing Countries: Reflections on Policy to Manage the Risks

Corruption in the health sector is a concern in all countries, but it is a particularly significant problem in most developing countries where public resources are severely constrained. It is, therefore, imperative that the developing countries’ governments close corruption loopholes within their health-care system. This work contextualizes, examines, and analyzes the corruption risks in the health sector in developing countries based on research observation and some interviews with key personnel in that sector. Drawing on the literature and best practices in developing countries, it also offers policy recommendations for managing corruption risks in that sector and improving health service delivery.