Viewpoint: When the 'non-workable ideological best' becomes the enemy of the 'imperfect but workable good'.

This brief paper addresses some of the difficulties inherent in international ideological approaches to solving the complex problems of health care financing and delivery in poor countries using Ghana as an example. It concludes with an appeal for problem solving approaches involving informed debate as to optimal ways forward to solve low income country health financing woes that are open minded about possible options rather than vested in particular positions.