Is enrolment in the national health insurance scheme in ghana pro. The national health insurance scheme nhis is an effective means to increase healthcare access in low and middleincome countries including ghana but effective implementation to ensure the poor, the target of the scheme, benefit is needed. The effect of ghanas national health insurance scheme on. Stop the propaganda about nhis senior lecturer advises. Nov, 2018 ghana, a lower middleincome country in ssa, implemented a national health insurance scheme nhis in 2004 to provide financial risk protection for all residents,14,15,16,17. They include the formal sector social health insurance programmes a public sector federal, states and local governments b organized private sector c armed forces, police and other uniformed services. Ministry of health august 2004 ghana health service. Pdf prospects and challenges of implementing a sustainable. Prospects and challenges of implementing a sustainable national health insurance scheme. The national health insurance scheme in ghana is deemed as one of the legacies of the john kufuor administration. Because the current cash and carry system, which makes it compulsory for everybody to. This assessment is done by taking the akuapem south mutual health insurance scheme, selected health facilities in the nsawam. Addaekorankye management and public administration department central university college, accra, ghana abstract the study examined the challenges of financing health care in ghana.
In ghana, the nhis is the medium through which social security can be provided for citizens, particularly the vulnerable women and children to access and utilize basic healthcare services. The effect of the national health insurance scheme nhis on. Ghanas nhis in brief ghanas health care system was founded on the basis of the free health care model. Nhis questionnaires, datasets, and related documentation. Ghana s national health insurance scheme nhis has achieved considerable success, but is beset by challenges that have become important election issues ahead of the december parliamentary and presidential polls. Downloadable documents national health insurance scheme.
The national health insurance scheme nhis is a body corporate established under act 35 of 1999 constitution by the federal government of nigeria to improve the health of all nigerians at an affordable cost. Ghana s nhis in brief ghana s health care system was founded on the basis of the free health care model. The case of the cape coast metropolis, ghana article pdf available december 20 with 1,892 reads. Ghanas nhis first step towards uhc was the districtwide schemes which transitioned into a nationwide scheme. Summary of nhis microdata availability pdf icon pdf 18 kb nhis microdata files record lengths and counts pdf icon pdf 63 kb nhis microdata reference information. Nov 10, 2016 the introduction of the national health insurance scheme nhis in ghana in 2003 significantly contributed to improved health services utilization and health outcomes. An evaluation of the national health insurance scheme in ghana. Her responsibilities in the world bank also include preparing, supervising, and evaluating lending operations at the country level. In ghana, poverty reduction spending is largely targeted at the underprivileged in society. Evaluating the impact of the national health insurance scheme. Ghana s national health insurance scheme nhis was created by the national health insurance act of august 2003, and is one of very few attempts by a subsaharan african country to implement a nationallevel, universal health insurance program. The ghana national health insurance scheme nhis was created by an act of parliament in 2003 act 650, subsequently revised by act 852 in 2012, and implemented as a national program in 2005 18. The national health insurance scheme is a form of national health insurance established by the government of ghana, with a goal to provide equitable access and financial coverage for basic health care services to ghanaian citizens.
However, stagnating active membership, reports of poor quality health care rendered to nhis insured. Ghana has also experienced high economic growth following the establishment of the national health insurance scheme nhisan average of 7. However, stagnating active membership, reports of poor quality health care rendered to nhis insured clients and cost escalations have raised concerns on the operational and financial sustainability of the scheme. Sep 08, 2017 health financing systems are a major factor challenging the provision of equitable and quality health care in ghana. Exemption should be expanded to include poor households with large membership. Health insurance scheme nhis1 to enhance the performance of its health system, paying particular. Pdf background in 2004, ghana began implementation of a national health insurance scheme nhis to minimize outofpocket expenditure at the point of. May 18, 2018 the national health insurance scheme is a form of national health insurance established by the government of ghana, with a goal to provide equitable access and financial coverage for basic health care services to ghanaian citizens. It also identified various funding mechanisms available to finance health care in ghana. The national health insurance scheme nhis was established under act 650 of 2003 by the government of ghana to provide basic healthcare services to persons resident in the country through mutual and private health insurance schemes. Of ghana entitled national health insurance act, 2012 an act to establish a national health insurance authority to implemnt a national health insurance scheme, establish a national health insurance fund to pay for the cost of health care services to members of the scheme, establish private health insurance schemes, and to. Ghana began the implementation of a national health insurance scheme nhis in 2004 as a way to ensure equitable access to basic healthcare for all residents.
Pdf the ghana national health insurance scheme nhis was established as part of a poverty reduction strategy to make health care more. Sep 21, 2016 at that time, the policy objectives of the ghana national health insurance scheme nhis were stated as. Pdf the effect of the national health insurance scheme nhis on. This thesis provides an assessment of the effectiveness of the national health insurance scheme nhis in ghana implemented by act 650 and l. Ghana national health insurance scheme open knowledge. Evidence suggests most health facilities are faced with management challenges in the delivery of services. The national health insurance scheme nhis in ghana was established by an act of parliament act 650 in 2003, and, passed into law, legislative instrument, li 1809 in 2004 government of ghana. The model, however, could not be sustained for long and a token user fee was first introduced in 1972. The government is to replace the existing cash and carry health financing system with a national health insurance scheme.
Boosting membership of the scheme will need to be accompanied by a widening the payment net if the scheme is to remain financially. Seeking the mandate of the people in the 2000 elections. Guidelines for private health insurance schemes in ghana nhis. A company desirous of operating a health insurance scheme in ghana shall apply for. Challenges facing the national health insurance scheme. Trends and characteristics of enrolment in the national. Download to read our nhis english pdf icon pdf 330 kb or spanish pdf icon pdf 2 mb brochure. In 2004, ghana began implementation of a national health insurance scheme nhis to minimize outofpocket expenditure at the point of use of service. Refusal to enrol in ghanas national health insurance scheme. Ghanas national health insurance scheme nhis is an innovative attempt to. A fullyfledged user fee scheme known as cash and carry came into effect in 1985. Evaluating the impact of the national health insurance scheme of. History of nhis in ghana nhia in ghana ghana health news.
The implementation of the scheme was accompanied by increased access and use of health care services. The universal in uhc and ghanas national health insurance. History of nhis birth of ghanas national health insurance scheme. Ghanas national health insurance scheme nhis was created by the national health insurance act of august 2003, and is one of very few attempts by a subsaharan african country to implement a nationallevel, universal health insurance program. The idea for the national health insurance scheme nhis in ghana was conceived by former president john kufuor who when seeking the mandate of the people in the 2000 elections, promised to abolish the cash and carry system of health delivery. The national health interview survey nhis is the principal source of information on the health of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the united states and is one of the major data collection programs of the national center for. Although the national health insurance scheme nhis of ghana was. Establishment of the national health insurance scheme. New earmarked funding sources for the nhisparticularly the national health insurance levyas well as a portion of social. Any identifiable group of persons in ghana may form and operate a pmhis. The aim of the health insurance scheme in ghana is to enable the government achieve its set health goal within the context of the gprs and the health sector five year programme of work, 20022006. Presentation to ghana nhis 10th anniversary conference b5. This group of people is usually given the needed support and financial assistance to help equip them for better opportunities in life.
Introduction the national health insurance scheme is form of the national health insurance established by the government of ghana with the aim of providing equitable access and financial coverage for the basic health care services to ghanaian citizens. After a decade of its implementation, national coverage is just about 34% of the national. Since the establishment of ghana national health insurance scheme nhis in. Although the national health insurance scheme nhis of ghana was designed to promote universal health coverage, oopes as a proportion of total health expenditures remains elevated at 26%, exceeding the whos recommendations of less than 1520%. Ghana is the first country in africa to implement a national health insurance scheme nhis to meet the needs of its population with the aim of achieving uhc. Jan 17, 2015 access to health insurance is expected to have positive effect in improving access to healthcare and offer financial risk protection to households. The national health insurance scheme nhis took off in the year 2005 and is a corporate body established under act 35 of 1999 constitution by the federal government of nigeria to improve the health of all nigerians at an affordable cost through various prepayment systems. May 06, 2019 nhis restricted variable information, restricted and public use variable lists. However, stagnating active membership, reports of poor quality health care rendered. It was fashioned out to address the challenges of the outofpocket payment system of paying for healthcare services in the 1990s, popularly referred to as cash. The national health insurance scheme nhis in ghana was established by the national health insurance act, 2003 act 650 and national health insurance regulations, 2004 l. Pdf does the operations of the national health insurance. Background the introduction of the national health insurance scheme nhis in ghana in 2003 significantly contributed to improved health services utilization and health outcomes.
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