PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME IN TOLON DISTRICT OF GHANA

Abstract

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provides affordable health care services for the residents of Ghana, of which Tolon District is not an exception although the system is faced with challenges of untimely securing of drugs and poor attention to patients. The NHIS was introduced in 2005 to replace the “cash and carry’’ system which made the health system very difficult to access in Ghana especially in the Tolon District. The study examined the challenges and prospects of the NHIS in the Tolon District. The study relied on both primary and secondary sources of data through desk studies. Primary data was obtained through interview schedule and interview guide. The study revealed that about 83 percent of the study respondents are subscribers to the scheme whilst 70 percent claim they have their family members also registered to the scheme. The study identified challenges such as inadequate medical doctors, inadequate drugs provision, poor state of hospital facilities, inability of the scheme to cater for certain basic drugs among others were pertinent in impeding the success of the scheme in the Tolon District. The study therefore recommended among others things that management should be vigilant and expose any provider who would try to defraud the scheme, create a national consultative forum to dialogue to cover increased of chronic diseases and supply of their drugs and educate the people of Tolon on the consequences of seeking medical treatment from multiple health posts. Finally, government should increase budget allocation for health infrastructural development to absorb the pressure from the increasing health centre attendance due to the introduction of the NHIS. Also, there should be timely release of funds by government to pay service providers to enable them keep the scheme sustainable.