Examining the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in public hospitals in Greater Accra, Ghana

This dissertation examines the impacts of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) after its implementation in public hospitals in Ghana. Introduced in 2003, the NHIS aims to provide equitable access to healthcare services and financial protection against medical expenses. This research focuses on not only evaluating the scheme’s effectiveness in achieving these goals, particularly in urban settings but also its shortfalls. Data were collected using various an interview guide to source information from Accra Ridge Hospital, HNIS subscribers, and the NHIS officers or staffs. The findings from the dissertation reveal that while the NHIS has significantly increased healthcare access, challenges such as funding gaps, administrative inefficiencies, and disparities in service quality were among many other factors curtailing its effectiveness. These issues cause potential hindrances preventing the NHIS to achieve its universal coverage in Ghana. The study’s findings called for policy adjustments as recommendations to enhance the NHIS’s efficiency and inclusivity to ensure larger population is subscribed and covered to have equal access to healthcare.