The Impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme on the Lives of Persons with Disabilities in Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

Authors

  • Henry Abuaku Howard Department of Community Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5463/dcid.v29i3.758

Keywords:

Disability, national health insurance scheme, national health insurance authority, health insurance

Abstract

Purpose:  In Ghana, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is one of the government’s social protection measures to provide healthcare for its citizens. Persons with disabilities and their families, though worthy recipients of such services, are more likely to face challenges in accessing healthcare through the NHIS due to social discrimination. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme on the lives of persons with disabilities in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Method:  A qualitative study was carried out. Purposive sampling was used to select persons with disabilities and NHIA staff as participants. Structured interviews and focus group discussions were employed to collect data from them.

Results: Unemployment among persons with disabilities was the major economic factor that influenced access to health insurance and healthcare. Most of the mobility impaired and visually impaired persons were inconvenienced by inaccessible routes to NHIA offices.  For the hearing impaired, communication was a major problem since the NHIA staff were unable to understand sign language.

Conclusion and Implications: NHIS has been instrumental in providing healthcare for persons with disabilities, and stakeholders must encourage persons with disabilities to register for NHIS. Their unemployment issues should be addressed by aiding their economic ventures. Access routes to NHIA offices must also be made disability-friendly.

Author Biography

Henry Abuaku Howard, Department of Community Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Author holds a Master of Science Degree in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. His  interest areas are: disability rights advocacy, disability education and prevention.

 

 

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Published

2019-02-23

How to Cite

1.
Howard HA. The Impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme on the Lives of Persons with Disabilities in Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2019 Feb. 23 [cited 2024 Sep. 8];29(3):93-104. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/306

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 3 (2018): Autumn 2018

Section

Brief reports

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Copyright (c) 2019 The Author(s)

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