Moral Hazard on Free Health Care Services:A Study from Consumer's Side

Abstract

Free Health Service is a priority program and a boon to all citizens mostly for the poor and marginalized groups. It is a timely and exemplary program of government but some people have deviation in their normal behaviour as services have been provided free. A descriptive cross-sectional approach was done to assess moral hazard on free health care services by consumers. An interview schedule was used to collect quantitative data and in depth interview with health workers for qualitative data in selected eleven health facilities. The study showed the prevalence of moral hazards of free health care services by the consumers. Two-third (65%) respondents had medicines at home. Around one-third (33%) of respondent had self demanded for the medicines. Two-third (67.6%) doesn't seek for health services during health problems. One-fourth (23.6%) had poster at home for non IEC purpose. Age, education level, travelling time to health facility, occupation, and satisfaction towards services were significantly associated with availability of medicines at home. Age, education level, health workers behaviour were significantly associated with self demand of medicines. Peoples are misutilizing the services as, government bear the burden of cost. There was deviation in the normal behaviour of the peoples due to no registration fees and free drugs availability. Many people like to take medicines and have a notion that there is a pills for every ill as a result they self demand for the medicines and mostly don’t consume full dose which can develop drug resistance. Visit to health facilities to collect medicines at home have increase unnecessary burden to health facilities and also increase in morbidity status. The result can inform developing proper policy and safety measures to drop off moral hazard on free health care services.