Challenges in the implementation of the national health insurance scheme: A case study of University of Cape Coast hospital

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying issues that posed as difficulties in the smooth implementation of the NHIS in the University of Cape Coast Hospital and thereby suggest practical measures that could help improve the operations of the scheme within the university community and the region at large. A descriptive research design was used to carry out the study. Questionnaires, interviews and non-participant observations were used to collect data for the study. A total of 136 respondents were selected through the quota and purposive sampling methods to form the sample of the study. The target population of the study was students of the university (graduates and undergraduates), staff of the university and the hospital in particular. Inputs were also collated from managers of the insurance scheme as well. Data collected from the field were sorted out, checked and thereafter coded. The Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 15.0 software was used to key in the data after which simple frequencies and percentages were generated and adopted for analysis of the data. The unnecessary delays in the registration and issuance of Identification Cards (ID) for new entrants of the insurance scheme, lack of equipment and personnel, with the requisite knowledge and skills in Information Communication Technology (ICT) to capture and process clients data promptly were identified as some of the constraints of the programme. The study recommends a review of the programme that will include the recruitment and training of more personnel with the required ICT skills to manage the schemes nationwide.