Abstract:

Introduction: In nearly every society, the standard of living is to a large extent determined by access to goods and services that fulfilled basic human needs. The qualities of a country’s population, no doubt, enhance productivity, economic growth and development. The declined in Nigerian Government revenues since the wake of the economic crisis of the 1980’s has necessitated cut in public expenditure including health which leads to increase in out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure in health of average family. To reduce the OOP, the government introduces the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria to compliment government and family’s effort in health care financing.

Objectives: The paper aimed to look into the role of National Insurance Scheme as an alternative source of health care financing in Nigeria most particularly in Borno State.

Method: The research intents to galvanized the stakeholders in the state to understand the need to identify more opportunities for financing health especially with focus on to support the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the state.

Results: Stakeholders in the program states were made to understand that, financing health is not the sole responsibility of government or agencies but everyone business. There is the need to holistically support the implementation of the scheme in the state.

Conclusions: The emergence and success of the health insurance scheme as a means of co-financing health care in developed nation e.g. United Kingdom, China etc., and its attendant success propelled the developing nation like Nigeria to adopt the scheme with the view to finding lasting solutions to its peculiar high health indices/ care problems and there is the need to have the enabling policy environment for the full benefit of the scheme.

Keywords for indexing: Northern Nigeria, Borno state, National Health Insurance scheme, health financing, out-of-pocket expenses, stakeholders, service providers, utilization, maternal mortality rate, child mortality rate.

References:

[1].Ajala O. V Mrs (1996): Scholarly writing guide for researchers Maybset Publishers; first Edition

[2].Anukwesi N. (1997): Thisday Newspapers “Experts hails NHIS” 14^th Nov. 1997.

[3].Checkoway B. Ed (1981): Citizens and health care, participation and planning for social change. Pergamon press Inc.

[4].Dlakwa H. (1997): Lecture Notes on public policy analysis; University of Maiduguri.

[5].El-Yakub K. Mrs (1998): Lecture notes of public policy and legal aspects of health care management. University of Maiduguri.

[6].Effah S. (1997): Lecture notes on qualitative research method University of Maiduguri

[7].Emenuga C. (1998): Seminar paper “Economics of scale as a tool for placing the establishment of the NHIS in Nigeria.” Lagos.

[8].Edozien U.F. (1995): Seminar Paper “National Health Insurance Scheme, the alternative funding system for the health sector.” Lagos.

[9].Erionosho L. Ed (1996): Nigerian Journal of health planning and management NJHPM Vol. 1, No 2 July – December 1996.

[10]. Fromer J. M. (1979): Community health and the Nursing process C.V Morby Company publishers, first Edition.

[11]. F.M.O.H Legal Unit (1996): Seminar paper “contract between NHIS, HMOs and PHIC Lagos.

[12]. F.M.O.H. (1988): National Health policy and strategy to achieve health for all Nigerian.

[13]. F.M.O.H. (1996): Pamphlet in National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria. Lagos.

[14]. Okpaise R. (1996): Seminar paper “Cost implication of various providers, payment systems in the health insurance scheme” Maiduguri.

[15]. Okorosobo T. (1996): Seminar paper “monitoring indices for adequate evaluation of the operation of the NHIS”. Maiduguri.

[16]. Onukwesi N. (1996): Seminar paper utilizing HMOs and PHIC by NHIS to provide universal health coverage in Nigeria”. Lagos.

[17]. Offiong O.D (1998): Imperialism and dependency, obstacle to African development. Fourth Dimension Publishers; 1^st Edition.