Open AccessSustaining the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana: Perceptions and Experiences of Health Care Providers and Subscribers
Author(s) -
Emmanuel Amangbey,
Gandiibu A. Julius,
Gbaran Gbolo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of social science research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2327-5510
DOI - 10.5296/ijssr.v6i1.11633
Subject(s) - sustenance , business , health care , government (linguistics) , service provider , environmental health , revenue , marketing , service (business) , economic growth , medicine , finance , political science , linguistics , philosophy , law , economics
The establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme was as a consequence of government effort at adopting a sustainable health care financing system with the aim of achieving universal health coverage. This study therefore explored the perceptions and experiences of health care providers and subscribers regarding the sustenance of the NHIS in Ghana. The study employed a mixed method design using survey questionnaires and in-depth face-to-face interviews. The study revealed that NHIS had contributed to the revenue base of service providers and increased healthcare utilisation at provider centres. The inability of health care providers to provide essential medicines and perceived poor quality of health care were identified as challenges to subscribers. The study concludes that the NHIS has the potential of ensuring universal health coverage provided stakeholders make deliberate efforts at addressing the obvious sustainable threats identified.