Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 3(5), pp. 180 - 186
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2015.030502
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Strategies to Enhance Utilization of National Hospital Insurance Fund Scheme Medical Cover by Informal Sector Populations in Kakamega County, Kenya

Mukhwana Eugine Sundays ^1,*, Ngaira J. K ², Mutai C ^3
1 Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
² Department of Disaster Management and Sustainable Development, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya
³ Department of Public Health and Biomedical Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Social Health Insurance (SHI) has been preferred form of financing health care to reduce out of pocket expenditure on health care. Most countries are extending SHI programmes to people outside the formal sector in an effort to increase access to healthcare. However, this approach faces challenges of enrolment of sufficient numbers of people into a common risk pool and collection of contributions. The objective of this study was to evaluate strategies to enhance participation of people in the informal sector in Kakamega County in the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Scheme for access to health care. This was a descriptive qualitative study with sample units purposively selected. Ten Focus Group Discussions were conducted and several Key informants interviewed. Data obtained was scrutinized for emerging themes. The study established that people in the informal sector in Kakamega County were aware of the value of the NHIF cover for accessing health care but lack accurate information on the insurance function of the NHIF cover. Rigid scheme design features also discourage subscription. Major recommendations included policy review of rigid scheme conditions, making the scheme attractive and increasing registration centers. Policy decisions should focus on educating people working outside formal employments on insurance functions of the NHIF cover.

KEYWORDS
Participation, Access to Health Care, Strategies, Sustainability, National Hospital Insurance Fund Scheme

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Mukhwana Eugine Sundays , Ngaira J. K , Mutai C , "Strategies to Enhance Utilization of National Hospital Insurance Fund Scheme Medical Cover by Informal Sector Populations in Kakamega County, Kenya," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 3, No. 5, pp. 180 - 186, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2015.030502.

(b). APA Format:
Mukhwana Eugine Sundays , Ngaira J. K , Mutai C (2015). Strategies to Enhance Utilization of National Hospital Insurance Fund Scheme Medical Cover by Informal Sector Populations in Kakamega County, Kenya. Universal Journal of Public Health, 3(5), 180 - 186. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2015.030502.