Opinion
Opinion

Why the Poor Pay More

The hidden cost of “free” services.
Why the Poor Pay More
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Commentary
Walk into a government clinic in Lagos on a Monday morning, and you’ll see the real price of “free” healthcare. Even early in the day, the benches are already full. Mothers clutch sick children, elderly men sit on the floor, and everyone waits, sometimes for hours, just to be seen. When a nurse finally calls a name, there’s often a quiet expectation for a “token,” a polite word for a bribe, to move the process along. And if you do make it to the doctor? The medicine is often out of stock. You leave with a prescription in hand and another bill to pay at a private pharmacy.
Lika Kobeshavidze
Lika Kobeshavidze
Author
Lika Kobeshavidze is a Georgian political writer, analytical journalist, and fellow with Young Voices Europe, specializing in EU policy and regional security in Europe. She is currently based in Lund, Sweden, pursuing advanced studies in European Studies.