Effects of Co-Payment on Health Care Service At Akuse Government Hospital, Lower Manya-Krobo District, Eastern Region
Date
2017-07
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Background: Co-payment is a sum of money that a client with health insurance is mandated to
pay at each visit to a health facility or when purchasing medicine although under Act 852 Of
2012 it is unacceptable .The study aimed to assess the effects of co-payment on health care at
Akuse Government Hospital. The study sought to determine reasons for co-payment, effects of
co-payment on health care providers and effects of co-payment on clients.
Method: The study adopted a mixed method approach using both quantitative and qualitative
survey. The study used descriptive and inferential analysis to generalize the findings; the
combination provided a better understanding of the research problem. Data was gathered by
administering questionnaire which comprised both open and close ended questions. Sample of
400 clients were used for the cross-sectional study and 10 Heads of Departments were
purposely selected and interviewed for the qualitative study. The quantitative data was
analyzed using Stata Version 14.0 after entering all data into Microsoft Excel and Nvivo were
used to analyze themes of in-depth interview for qualitative data.
Results: Out of the 400 clients studied, 93% admitted that co-payment made access to health care
more expensive, impoverished the poor and gave financial and psychological burden on those with
chronic diseases and the elderly who often access health care. However, health care providers
confirmed that introduction of co-payment had helped the hospital to accrue more funds to meet
operational cost and render quality service to clients.
Conclusion: Co-payment is illegal in Ghana but so far as the NHIA delays reimbursement of
funds, the health facilities will also be compelled to practice it to meet operational cost. The
ripple effect is then shifted on clients who have to pay more for services and since most of them
cannot afford health care may use unorthodox means of health care that will be detrimental to
their health and defeat the purpose for which NHIS was established.
Description
MPH
Keywords
Co-Payment, Health Care Service, Akuse Government Hospital, Lower Manya-Krobo District, Eastern Region, Ghana