Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Werner Jean-François. (2017). "The prince and the magic magnet" : an ethnographic tale of technology, power and health in Africa. In : Venot Jean-Philippe (ed.), Veldwisch G.J. (ed.). Mythes sociotechniques et développement. Anthropologie et Développement, 46-47, p. 49-66. ISSN 2276-2019.

Titre du document
"The prince and the magic magnet" : an ethnographic tale of technology, power and health in Africa
Année de publication
2017
Type de document
Article
Auteurs
Werner Jean-François
In
Venot Jean-Philippe (ed.), Veldwisch G.J. (ed.) Mythes sociotechniques et développement
Source
Anthropologie et Développement, 2017, 46-47, p. 49-66 ISSN 2276-2019
Under the guise of an ethnographic tale, the author tells us a story in which political power, technology and health were closely linked together at the turn of the 21st century in a small poor African country. At the heart of this story is an advanced medical imaging technology called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which was introduced into the country by the will of the Prince who was then in power. In so doing, he was taking for granted the collective belief that making patients’ bodies more transparent necessarily improves the quality of health care and saves money. But this story proves that it was not the case. From a financial point of view, the State did not save money and, from a medical standpoint, most of the population was unable to benefit from this technological breakthrough because of the excessive cost of MRI examinations. On the contrary, the introduction of this sophisticated technology highlighted the weaknesses of the health care system and further increased inequalities in access to health care facilities. The moral of this story is that the current belief that technology is the key to social and economic development is so deeply rooted in the collective imaginary that it is very difficult to escape its power of attraction.
Plan de classement
Santé : généralités [050] ; Santé : aspects socioculturels, économiques et politiques [056] ; Société, développement social [106] ; Développement scientifique et technique [116]
Descripteurs
HOPITAL ; TRANSFERT DE TECHNOLOGIE ; IMAGE A RESONANCE MAGNETIQUE ; IRM ; IMAGERIE MEDICALE ; ETHNOGRAPHIE ; RELATION SOIGNANT SOIGNE
Description Géographique
AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST ; SENEGAL ; DAKAR
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F A010071780]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010071782
Contact