Awareness of the Rights and Responsibilities of the Staff of the Federal Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria under the National Health Insurance Scheme

Abstract

Background: Awareness of your rights and responsibilities as an enrollee of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is key to fully accessing all benefits of the scheme. It also helps when giving a valid assessment of the healthcare services received through the scheme. This study has assessed the level of awareness of the rights and responsibilities of NHIS enrolled staff from the Federal Colleges of Education in North Central Nigeria. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional investigation in which 165 selected participants completed a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. The data was collated and analyzed using descriptive statistics, specifically frequency, mean, and percentages. Six research questions were raised and answered. Results: Most (79.15%) of the respondents were fully aware of the NHIS objectives but only a few (43.15%) and (52.40%) were aware of the benefits and their responsibilities as enrollees of the NHIS. Similarly, many (47.88%) were not aware of the procedures used to seek for redress when dissatisfied with the services they received. Additionally, 80.4% believed that their healthcare providers operate in a clean environment and 80.8% felt that the doctors and nurses were friendly and cordial, though 62% claimed to have experienced a long waiting period before doctor/nurse consultations. Finally, 73.5% of the respondents agreed that they were satisfied with the quality of the service rendered by their healthcare providers. Conclusion: This study therefore recommends the proper enlightenment of enrollees in order for them to be aware of all of the provisions of the NHIS. The government should employ more medical personnel, especially doctors, in order to reduce the pressure on the few available as well to enhance the patient consultations by making them faster.