Economic Cost of Malaria Treatment under the Health Insurance Scheme in the Savelugu-Nanton District of Ghana

Hb Zakaria,Fa Asante

doi:10.4314/gjds.v10i1-2.1

Abstract

The paper discusses the findings of a survey which explored the implications of access to health care by examining costs incurred by health insurance card holders in the Savelugu-Nanton District. Treatment for malaria, a disease that causes morbidity and mortality in Sub-Sahara Africa, based on the Cost of Illness Approach (CIA) was used to compute the cost of health care. An analysis of the survey data showed that health seeking behaviour was consistent with economic theorists who argue that cost-benefit considerations influence the behaviour and actions of individuals who benefit from health insurance. While the dominant motive for obtaining health insurance was to have access to affordable health care, solidarity appeared to be low among members of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme. The cost of malaria treatment borne by patients under health insurance was valued at GH¢ 71.3 or US$ 46.20 (2009 prices). While indirect costs were disproportionately greater than direct costs, the study affirmed that health insurance generally insulate subscribers from monetary payments which in itself increases both attendance and utilisation of health services even though the implication of this phenomenon on time loss and productivity appear to be rather enormous.Key Words: Health Insurance Scheme, Cost of Illness, Human Capital, Malaria, User fees.

Highlights

Since independence in 1957, various governments of Ghana have introduced policies aimed at improving the health and general wellbeing of Ghanaians
A list of valid health insurance card users from the selected communities who were diagnosed with malaria in the last three months was obtained from the health facilities in the District
The health insurance scheme guarantees that valid card holders receive care for malaria treatment in line with the provisions defined in the Scheme’s benefit package

Summary

Introduction

Since independence in 1957, various governments of Ghana have introduced policies aimed at improving the health and general wellbeing of Ghanaians. It is not surprising that studies on health care seeking behaviour amplify how severe reductions in government expenditure on health care, coupled with the introduction of user fees create problems such as inaccessibility and inequality in health care utilisation (Asenso-Okyere, Anum, Osei-Akoto & Adukonu, 1998) These studies re/echo long standing concerns associated with health care in Ghana such as the limited access to health facilities as population growth outstrips the provision of social services; limited financial access due to the high cost of disease prevention and treatment and poor quality of health services as a result of frequent shortages of personnel, drugs and other supplies (Gyimah, Baffour & Addai, 2006). The cost of ill health is a major concern to poor households as it exposes their vulnerabilities and takes a toll on their already low incomes (Wagstaff & van Doorslaer, 2003)

Methods

Results

Conclusion