The Transiting to Universal Health Care Coverage: An Analysis of the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme

The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons why the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has not been able to enrol all citizens of Ghana after seven years of its initiation despite the set target of five years. Data from the national development planning commission (NDPC) on citizens' assessment of the NHIS was examined using the modified version of the Anderson behavioural model as a theoretical framework. The results at the time of the survey indicate that insurance coverage was above half of the total population. With a generous benefit package, insured people still incur out of pocket expenditure for care for uncovered services. Nevertheless, the insured pay significantly less than the uninsured. The study concludes that achieving universal health insurance coverage with equitable, sustainable and effective health system is a great challenge. However, the challenge can be overcome when government and health authorities assume a clear-cut stewardship role of the health sector.