Sustainability Of Nhis: The Role Of Social Capital And Service Care Providers In The Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (Lekma)

ABSTRACT

Over the years healthcare has been identified as a major area of concern among

the general population in Ghana. For that matter various policies have been put in place

to respond to health needs, but to no avail. Using an explorative study within the

Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly of Accra, the study sought to ascertain if any

elements of social capital could be relevant in the provision of quality healthcare in

conjunction with future policies implemented in Ghana.

Using a qualitative and quantitative methodology framework, the study

established that the inclusion of elements comprising social capital, include norms,

networks, trust, reciprocity, and resource pooling is necessary to aid in sustaining the

National Health Insurance Scheme and their service care providers. The study also

yielded that 44.4% of NHIS subscribers on the whole disagreed with the idea that the

scheme is not being managed properly. Although the participants feel that the National

Health Insurance Scheme is good, the consensus among the participants was that there

needs to be a source of alternative funding for the scheme. It was also found that the

members of NHIS have inadequate knowledge as to whether the scheme is being

managed well or not, indicating a lack of transparency on the part of the National Health

Insurance Scheme.

The study therefore suggests several points that contribute to the schemes

longevity. A revision in acquisition of funding pertaining specifically to the development

of alternative funding methods for the scheme, restructuring the filing and reimbursement

of claims, sensitization of the people through mass education, and implementation of

monitoring and evaluation strategies. These points unearthed by the study could help the

scheme become more efficient and effective in providing quality and sustainable health

care for everyone.