Abstract
This article focuses primarily on secondary literature to highlight some of the key issues that has affected the effectiveness and the efficiency of the National Health Insurance in Ghana. The article proposes the need to use legislation and additional preventive healthcare strategies to lessen or reduce the pressure that comes upon the National Health Insurance Authority. Finally, it postulates that the people of a community, their institution, that is health institutions and Para-health institutions that ensure public safety, environmental protection, and sanitation among others are enjoined to reduce the occurrence of disease and injury or harm. This could ensure a healthy work force and a healthy population that has the tendency or proclivity to increase productivity and lessen disease burden with its associated harm and cost on the state, especially in countries where social insurance is practiced.
Highlights
This article focuses primarily on secondary literature to highlight some of the key issues that has affected the effectiveness and the efficiency of the National Health Insurance in Ghana
It postulates that the people of a community, their institution, that is health institutions and Para-health institutions that ensure public safety, environmental protection, and sanitation among others are enjoined to reduce the occurrence of disease and injury or harm
The non-payment of claims by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has led to card bearing members of the scheme being denied services as the service providers refuse to render any more service until their money is refunded to them
Summary
The NHIS comes along with increased access to health care and general improvement in health of the people (Adu-Gyamfi et al, 2015). According to Dalinjong and Laar NHIS has made access to health care services very easy. Dalinjong and Laar have confirmed the utilization of health care services have increased under the NHIS. The Ministry of Health (Ghana) reported that the use of outpatient and inpatient services under the NHIS almost doubled between 2005 and September 2007 (Dalinjong & Laar, 2012). According to the 2008 Citizens’ Assessment (NDPC, 2009), being an NHIS cardholder improves the chances of seeing high-quality health professionals (doctors and medical assistants versus consult drugstores and traditional providers). Being registered in the DMHIS increases the probability of seeking higher quality maternal healthcare as well as the likelihood that parents take their children to health facilities more often for both curative and preventive care (Gajate-Garrido & Ahiadeke, 2013). Pregnant women who participate in the scheme enjoy reduced incidence of birth complications and are more likely to receive prenatal care, to deliver at a hospital, and to be attended by a trained health professional during birth (Mensah, Oppong & Schmidt, 2009)
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