Abstract:
To address the problem of financial difficulties facing individual in accessing health care
services, the government in 2001, initiated a National Health Insurance Scheme
(NHIS) as a humane approach to financing health care in Ghana. To achieve the
goal of the National Insurance Schemes, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
started in 2002 to implement the policies of the NHIA. Four different questionnaires
were designed for insured, noninsured, Health service providers and health insurance
scheme and subscriber exits interviews, as well as focus group discussion were the
instrument used to collect data. The data was analyzed using tables, percentages,
graphs, and statistical programme for the Social science (SPSS) The convenient
sampling and the accidental methods were used which were all non-probabilistic sample
strategy. The objectives of the study were to assess whether or not the introduction of
NHIS as a new policy has engendered positive or negative outcomes in delivery of health
service, to collect data on the role of National Health Insurance Scheme on delivery of
health service, to determine the utilization rate of Health service for both insured
and non-insured on disease incidence, to suggest recommendations. The findings
from the study were that people, especially vulnerable and marginalized were
getting access to health care in the Hospital and utilization of health service has
increased over the years. In conclusion health insurance has been beneficial to the people
by helping them to meet their health needs. It was recommended that, efficient
monitoring systems such as a planned budget and budget allocation to improve health
outcome should be put in place to check utilization of health service to prevent abuses.
