This research project intends
to assess the impact of National Health Insurance Scheme on the welfare and
productivity in the UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TEACHING HOSPITAL KWARA STATE. This is
to show how effective is the scheme and also to rule out any possible critics
or abuse of the program in the university teaching hospital Ilorin.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Health Insurance can be defined as
a contract between an insurance provider (e.g. an insurance company or a
government) and an individual or his sponsor (e.g. an employer or a community
organization). The contract can be renewable (e.g. annually, monthly) or
lifelong in the case of private sector insurance, or be even mandatory for all
citizens in the case of national health plans. It involves resource
mobilization (generation and collection), pooling and allocation and
purchasing. A health insurance scheme should provide quality, equitable,
accessible, affordable, and efficient care; it should assure a significant
reduction in out of pocket expenditure and it should provide universal
coverage.
The National Health Insurance
Scheme (NHIS) was launched in Nigeria June, 2005 and covers public civil
servants in Federal Establishments. Aim: This study compared the pattern of
utilization of the staff clinic two years before and after the commencement of
NHIS at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Methodology: Descriptive
cross-sectional study was carried out using records of patients seen at staff
clinic, Unilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin two years before and after the
commencement of National Health Insurance Scheme. Information obtained from the
hospital records was entered into the Epi-Info software of the computer. A
p-value of dependants attended the staff clinic. Conclusion: National Health
Insurance Scheme led to 144% increase in the utilization of health services and
productivity at staff clinic of Unilorin Teaching Hospital. More studies need
to be done to probe into factors responsible for this increase and to rule out
possible abuse of the scheme
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
“There is hereby established a scheme to be known as the National Health Insurance Scheme (in this Decree referred to as “the Scheme”) for the purpose of providing health insurance which shall entitle insured persons and their dependants the benefit of prescribed good quality and cost effective health services as set out in this Decree.”
In Nigeria, the provision of quality, accessible and affordable healthcare remains an important issue (Agba et al.2010). There is no denying the fact that Nigeria’s healthcare index is very poor, and that the people are suffering. Today, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal morbidity and infant mortality rates in the world.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Dictionary defines health insurance thus: System for the advance financing of medical expenses through contributions or taxes paid into a common fund to pay for all or part of health services specified in an insurance policy or law. The key elements are advance payment of premiums or taxes, pooling of funds, and eligibility for benefits on the basis of contributions or employment without an income or assets test. Health insurance may apply to a limited or comprehensive range of medical services and may provide for full or partial payment of the costs of specific services. Benefits may consist of the right to certain medical services or reimbursement of the insured for specified medical costs. Private health insurance is organized and administered by an insurance company or other private agency; the government runs public health insurance. Both forms of health insurance are to be distinguished from socialized medicine and government medical-care programs, in which doctors are employed directly or indirectly by the government, which also owns the health-care facilities (e.g., Britain’s National Health Service).
“There is hereby established a scheme to be known as the National Health Insurance Scheme (in this Decree referred to as “the Scheme”) for the purpose of providing health insurance which shall entitle insured persons and their dependants the benefit of prescribed good quality and cost effective health services as set out in this Decree.”
In Nigeria, the provision of quality, accessible and affordable healthcare remains an important issue (Agba et al.2010). There is no denying the fact that Nigeria’s healthcare index is very poor, and that the people are suffering. Today, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal morbidity and infant mortality rates in the world.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Dictionary defines health insurance thus: System for the advance financing of medical expenses through contributions or taxes paid into a common fund to pay for all or part of health services specified in an insurance policy or law. The key elements are advance payment of premiums or taxes, pooling of funds, and eligibility for benefits on the basis of contributions or employment without an income or assets test. Health insurance may apply to a limited or comprehensive range of medical services and may provide for full or partial payment of the costs of specific services. Benefits may consist of the right to certain medical services or reimbursement of the insured for specified medical costs. Private health insurance is organized and administered by an insurance company or other private agency; the government runs public health insurance. Both forms of health insurance are to be distinguished from socialized medicine and government medical-care programs, in which doctors are employed directly or indirectly by the government, which also owns the health-care facilities (e.g., Britain’s National Health Service).
1.2 STATEMENT OF
PROBLEM
This research project intends
to assess the impact of National Health Insurance Scheme on the welfare and
productivity in the UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TEACHING HOSPITAL KWARA STATE. This is
to show how effective is the scheme and also to rule out any possible critics
or abuse of the program in the university teaching hospital Ilorin.
1.3
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study
is to carry out a research is to assess the impact of National Health Insurance
Scheme on the welfare and productivity in UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ILORIN
KWARA STATE.
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3. Describing the benefit of
the scheme to the entire public
4. Also describe the challenges
approached by the scheme in the institution
1.4
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this study
is to show how much the National Health Insurance Scheme has been able to
contribute to the welfares and productivity in the KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY
TEACHING HOSPITAL ILORIN.
The main significance of this
study to;
1. Attempt to assess the
achievement of National Health Insurance Scheme in teaching hospital university
of ilorin
2. Provide information to
broader the knowledge and high degree of awareness about NHIS
1.5
RESARCH QUESTIOS
1. What is the function of
National Health Insurance Scheme?
2. What is the contribution of National Health
Insurance Scheme on welfare productivity in teaching hospital university of
Ilorin?
3. Is there any challenge faced
by National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria?
4. What is the impact of National
Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria?
5. How do you think National
Health Insurance Scheme can improve in their activities for batter
productivity?
1.6
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The research was carry out only in the
TEACHING HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN KWARA STATE.As geographical coverage,
the writer intended to have studied more than that, but because of financial
commitments of the writer and the extra time that would be allotted in attempt
to assess THE IMPACT OF NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ON WELFARE PRODUCTIVITY AT
THE TEACHING HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN alone.
The content of the study focuses on the impact of National
Health Insurance Scheme.
1.7
LIMITATIOS OF THE STUDY
The research study is limited
to the teaching hospital University of Ilorin, due to inadequate time and
finance at the disposal of the researcher.
1.8 OPERATIONAL
DEFINATION OF TERMS
1. INSURANCE;
2. PRIMIUMS
3. TAXES
4. ADVANCE PAYMENT
5. PRODUCTIVITY
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