National Health Insurance Scheme and Enrollees’ Health Care in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (2012-2023)
Abstract
This paper examines the Impact of National Health Insurance Scheme on Enrollees’ Healthcare in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The study used both primary and secondary methods of data collection to obtain non-confidential records of NHIA enrollees in six selected Hospitals in FCT. The primary data was generated through a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire format; administered to 398 enrollees in NHIA Centres in FCT, Abuja. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools of analyses were used for data analysis. Percentages were used to describe the demographic data and research questions while Chi-square was used to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that NHIA has not significantly impacted on enrollees’ healthcare in FCT, Abuja. It was discovered that access to quality and affordable healthcare services among enrollees is constrained by non-realization of the NHIA objectives, inadequate public enlightenment, inadequate satisfaction of healthcare management information system, unavailability of drugs, total exclusion of treatment of certain critical ailments, inadequate sensitization of authorization codes and delay and long awaiting time by enrollees to access healthcare and inadequate institutionalization of total quality management of healthcare facilities. This study recommends that there should be urgent realization of the NHIA objectives towards enrollees healthcare; NHIA Pharmacies in FCT, Abuja should be equipped with drugs to prevent enrollees from buying prescribed drugs from private outlets at exorbitant prices; process of obtaining authorization codes and service forms should be digitalized with effective ICT and decentralized in NHIA Public Hospitals Centres respectively. There should be public enlightenment campaign by government on quality and affordable healthcare. Also, there should be institutionalization of total quality management of healthcare facilities through NHIA Council.
