On the Sustainability of Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme: An Actuarial Approach: a case study of the Kpando District
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Date
2011-06-20
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Abstract
There is considerable interest at present in exploring the potential of health insurance to increase access to and affordability of health care in Ghana. Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was passed into law in 2003 but fully implemented from late 2005. It has already reached impressive coverage levels.
This study seeks to check the sustainability of Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) vis-à-vis the treatment of the top nine diseases from the designated health institutions within the Kpandu District of the Volta Region.
It was on the above background that the research was conducted with the main objective of critically analysing the prevailing situation taking into account the available statistics.
To achieve this result, probability theory was used to estimate the total cost of health care. A sample of both the insured and staff of the health insurance scheme were interviewed in addition to the secondary data collected and other literature on the subject area.
The research finding indicated that the NHIS is heavily reliant on tax funding for its revenue. This has permitted quick expansion of coverage, partly through the inclusion of large exempted population groups. Policyholders (Membership) increased from 7% of the population in 2005 to 53.3% in March 2008 within the Kpando District of the Volta Region. The premium was estimated to be GHC272.40 with loadings and GHC82.40 with without loadings.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Mathematics.