Mauritius calling: medical care and neurorehabilitation needs in an oceanic idyll

Abstract

The tropical island of Mauritius, located off the coast of Southern Africa, has greatly improved its health care system, especially for frontline services and procedures such as cardiac surgery. But the post-acute neurorehabilitation care is still problematic, much to the detriment of disabled patients, their families, and Mauritian society overall. Comparisons with neurorehabilitation care in the United Kingdom suggest the scale of the problem in terms of uncoordinated medical teams, limited follow-ups, lack of expertise, and cultural stigma. This article assesses the needs of the neurologic rehabilitation segment in Mauritian health care and submits a set of policy recommendations addressing what medical professionals, hospitals, government officials, and other organizations can do to improve the neurologic rehabilitation infrastructure for Mauritian patients.