Evaluation of National Health Insurance Scheme: Benefits and Challenges in Eastern Nigeria
Abstract:
National health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is
a health care scheme that was by established by the Federal Government of
Nigeria in 2005 for better healthcare delivery to its populace. The aim of this
study was to determine the proportion of Enugu East Federal Government Staff in
Nigerian enrolled in the scheme, their satisfaction with the quality and
availability of services rendered within the scheme and the factors that were
responsible for the dismal health indices in the country despite the use of the
scheme. Indebt Questionnaires were
administered randomly to 200 out of 212 respondents that access healthcare in
Esut Teaching Hospital in Enugu East metropolis.
The findings show that only 57% of adults
were enrolled in the scheme, 87% were satisfied with their health improvement
with the scheme. Notably, 93% of enrolled respondents were aware of NHIS. There
was some level of dissatisfaction in the scheme (26% of enrollees). Sources of
dissatisfaction included delays in receiving required services and
unavailability or non coverage of some required services. It was statistically
determined using Chi Square tool of analysis that there was a direct
relationship between the percentage of enrollees and the poor health indices of
the populace. We strongly recommend for an improvement in accessibility and
availability of quality drugs for a better health to NHIS client and as well as
improved coverage quality of services within the scheme. Also there should be a
modification in the existing policy by improve NHIS through creating special
hospital for the scheme’s patient. This may further improve the undue protocol
encountered by this research.
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