Provider-Client Perception and Experiences on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Medicines List in Both Public and Private Pharmacy in the Bantama Sub-Metro of Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

Background: Health insurance schemes are formed in both developed and developing countries as a result of the existing challenges in the health care financing system stemming from uneven social and economic distribution. This study was conducted to find out the perception and experience of providers and clients in both public and private facilities on NHIS medicines list. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted  through systematic random sampling to recruit 455 participants from both Nimo Pharmacy (Private facility) and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (Public facility). Results: Majority of the clients were aware of NHIS medicines or generics medicines and branded medicines. However, most of them preferred NHIS medicines to branded medicines. The reasons provided for opting for NHI medicines were effective (p-value= 0.088) affordability (p-value= 0.001) availability (p-value= 0.001), safety (p-value=0.645) and less side effects (p-value=0.012). Again, factors that might influence providers’ prescription patterns of NHIS medicines list were; provider’s personal preference, clients’ preference, confidence in the generic company and advertisement by generic company.Conclusion: A database of all generic medicines should be created as well as their inventory level be maintained for every accredited NHIS facility by the Ministry of Health and National Health Insurance Authority. This will make information on NHIS medicines readily available and clients can easily be directed to another accredited facility by the provider to access NHIS medicines if they are not available at the visiting facility.

Keywords: Health Insurance, medicines list, client-provider-perceptions, Branded and generic medicines,