Title:
Access to Healthcare through NHIS; Factors Limiting Enrolment of the Poor unto the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana
Authors:
Appiagyei, Phoebe
Place:
Amsterdam
Publisher:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute [etc.]
Year:
2017
PAGE:
x, 37
Language:
En
Subject:
Health and Poverty
Keywords:
Ghana, National Health Insurance Scheme, Indigents, Enrolment, Targeting
Abstract:
Background: The NHIS law passed in 2003 by the Government of Ghana, guarantees financial protection to access of healthcare for the poor in the society in order to improve their health outcomes. Indigents (core poor) are exempted from premium payment toward enrolment into the scheme. At the end of 2015, only 19.1% of the total poor population in Ghana had been enrolled as indigents. This coverage is suboptimal and a bit counterintuitive given that indigents enjoy premium exemptions. Objective: To examine demand and supply factors that limit the poor from enroling unto NHIS and make recommendations to relevant stakeholders on effective ways to address them. Methodology: A literature review was conducted. Data on indigent enrolment over a five-year period were also analysed. A conceptual Framework was adapted from Panda et al, on a multicounty review of voluntary enrolment unto CBHI. Findings: Interrelations of factors such as trust, socioeconomic status, scheme related factors, provider related factors and national policy factors influenced decisions of the poor unto enrolment. Conclusions: The criteria for the selection of the poor was not adequately covering the true poor. Conveniently accessing NHIS and healthcare providers in a friendly client-provider environment will motivate enrolment of the poor and make the NHIS card worth having. Recommendation: Community Wealth Ranking could be used to identify the true poor for exemptions. Community, NHIS and provider relations in all dimensions must be strengthened.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Country:
Ghana
Region:
West Africa
Training:
Master of Public Health
Category:
Research
Right:
@ 2017 Appiagyei
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
aOac5ijpgw_20180415123208956.pdf