The Impact of National Health Insurance Scheme on the Health Status of Staff: A Case Study of the College of Technology Education, Kumasi of the University of Education, Winneba

Abstract

The study focused on the impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on health status of staff of the College of Technology Education, Kumasi (COLTEK) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). It explored the extent to which the NHIS has improved the health status of staff. Both stratified random and purposive sampling were adopted to select 42 members of staff for the study. Questionnaire was used to obtain data from the respondents. Simple descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data. The major findings were that the adoption of NHIS at COLTEK has increased access to medical care by staff, and has solved the problems associated with the obnoxious  ‘cash and carry’ system and as such has remarkably reduced the financial burden on members of staff. Also, members of staff are able to work efficiently and effectively for the progress of the University since they have access to affordable and, to a large extent, quality healthcare.  It is recommended that even though the Department of Human Resource, COLTEK is doing a good job in ensuring that staff register or renew their NHIS cards, it is recommended that staff should be reminded on regular basis to renew their expired NHIS cards on time or register with the NHIS immediately they are appointed. It is also recommended that NHIS issues should be included in the orientation programme for new appointees at the College.

Keywords: health insurance, COLTEK, quality health care