UK aid should not fund private hospitals in developing countries, says Oxfam

Oxfam found that a British International Investment-funded hospital in Kenya had imprisoned patients until they paid medical fees. Photograph: Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images

Private hospitals in India and Kenya accused of refusing people on low incomes vital healthcare, or holding them hostage until bills have been paid, benefit from UK government investment funds, according to a report by Oxfam.

Investments worth hundreds of millions of pounds by government-backed agencies are used to facilitate the “impoverishment and even the imprisonment of the very people [the private hospitals] are supposed to be helping”, said the development charity.