The role of national health insurance scheme in healthcare financing at Komfo Anokye teaching hospital, Kumasi

Abstract

To address the problem of financial difficulties facing individual in accessing health care services, the government in 2001, initiated a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as a humane approach to financing health care in Ghana. To achieve the goal of the National Insurance Schemes, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital started in 2002 to implement the policies of the NHIA. Four different questionnaires were designed for insured, noninsured, Health service providers and health insurance scheme and subscriber exits interviews, as well as focus group discussion were the instrument used to collect data. The data was analyzed using tables, percentages, graphs, and statistical programme for the Social science (SPSS) The convenient sampling and the accidental methods were used which were all non-probabilistic sample strategy. The objectives of the study were to assess whether or not the introduction of NHIS as a new policy has engendered positive or negative outcomes in delivery of health service, to collect data on the role of National Health Insurance Scheme on delivery of health service, to determine the utilization rate of Health service for both insured and non-insured on disease incidence, to suggest recommendations. The findings from the study were that people, especially vulnerable and marginalized were getting access to health care in the Hospital and utilization of health service has increased over the years. In conclusion health insurance has been beneficial to the people by helping them to meet their health needs. It was recommended that, efficient monitoring systems such as a planned budget and budget allocation to improve health outcome should be put in place to check utilization of health service to prevent abuses.