scholarly journals “Living long in India”– India’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Balraj ◽  
H Brand
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Indian Population ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Indian States ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Issue There are multiple small health insurance schemes throughout India. However, high out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures, unaffordable and inequitable access to healthcare services still persist. In an attempt to address these issues and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), India launched the healthcare scheme ‘Ayushman Bharat’ (“long live India”) in 2018. Description The Ayushman Bharat (AB) scheme has two components which include 1) transforming the existing primary healthcare centers (PHC) under the control of State Governments and 2) the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) also known as “ModiCare” - a health insurance. The scheme aims to transform nearly 150.000 PHCs to deliver comprehensive primary healthcare services across the country by 2022. NHPS covers the costs of almost all secondary and many tertiary care procedures of about 40% of the total Indian population. The coverage will be approximately €6.400 per year per beneficiary family; 60% of the costs are borne by the Centre and 40% by the States. Results Approximately €127 million have already been allocated by the Centre towards the AB scheme for the fiscal year 2018-19. Till date, around 29 million health insurance cards have been issued, approximately 1,8 million beneficiaries have been admitted and around 15.291 hospitals have been empaneled under NHPS. However, there is no data available validating the usage of the health services yet. Few Indian states are yet to implement the AB scheme. Lessons For the first time, attempts have been made to provide affordable healthcare services to the Indian population under a single common initiative. However, the AB scheme fails to cover outpatient health services, which are an important part of OOP expenses in India. Main message The effort to launch Ayushman Bharat in a big, democratic and diverse country like India has to be lauded, which not only aims to make healthcare services affordable but also aligns itself to the concept of UHC.

scholarly journals Financial Barriers to Access to Health Services for Adult People with Disability in Iran: The Challenges for Universal Health Coverage

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahin SOLTANI ◽  
Amirhossein TAKIAN ◽  
Ali AKBARI SARI ◽  
Reza MAJDZADEH ◽  
Mohammad KAMALI
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
People With Disability ◽  
Universal Health

Background: Reducing inequities in access to healthcare is one of the most important goals for all health systems. Financial barriers play a fundamental role here. People with disability (PWD) experience further financial barriers in access to their needed healthcare services. This study aimed to explore the causes of barriers in access to health services for PWD in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this qualitative study, we used semi-structured in-depth interviews to collect data and selected participants through purposeful sampling with maximum variation. We conducted 56 individual interviews with people with disability, healthcare providers and policymakers from Sep 2015 until May 2016, at different locations in Tehran, Iran. Results: We identified four categories and eight subcategories of financial barriers affecting access to healthcare services among PWD. Four categories were related to health insurance (i.e. lack of insurance coverage for services like dentistry, occupational therapy and speech therapy), affordability (low income for PWD and their family), financial supports (e.g. low levels of pensions for people with disabilities) and transportation costs (high cost of transportation to reach healthcare facilities for PWD). Conclusion: Financial problems can lead to poor access to health care services. To achieve universal health coverage, government should reduce health insurance barriers and increase job opportunities and sufficient financial support for PWD. 

scholarly journals An Analysis of The National Health Insurance Policy Implementation in 2014 (Presidential Regulation No. 12 And 111/2013 on Health Insurance) from The Regulator’s Position

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Arief Hasan ◽  
Puput Oktamianti ◽  
Dumilah Ayuningtyas
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
National Health ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract. JKN (National Health Insurance) is a government program that aims to provide health assurance for all Indonesian citizens for a healthy, productive, and prosperous life. In the two years after JKN was implemented, various problems occurred. This research used the qualitative approach with the Edward II implementation theory. Results of the research indicated that there were problems in communication, stemming from the lack of socialization and inharmonic regulations, there was also the problem of the lack of healthcare resources. From the disposition side, the policy makers often obstructs the implementation preparation, this is evident from the information on determining the premium size. From the organization structure, all the stakeholders have been well coordinated. We conclude that we are not ready to implement the JKN. We recommend that mass and effective socialization program to be performed using various methods of communication and involve the community. To reduce the disparity of healthcare services, we recommend that the regional government to establish various healthcare facilities to accelerate health development. There should also be regulations that allocates healthcare staff in every corner of the country to achieve Universal Health Coverage in 2019, as stated in the National Health Insurance Road Map. Keywords: policy analysis, national health insurance, universal health coverage

Universal health coverage and user charges

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 529-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Social Health Insurance ◽  
Social Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Health Report ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
User Charges ◽  
Universal Health

AbstractThere has been an explosion of interest in the concept of ‘universal health coverage’, fuelled by publication of the World Health Report 2010. This paper argues that the system of user charges for health services is a fundamental determinant of levels of coverage. A charge can lead to a loss of utility in two ways. Citizens who are deterred from using services by the charge will suffer an adverse health impact. And citizens who use the service will suffer a loss of wealth. The role of social health insurance is threefold: to reduce households’ financial risk associated with sickness; to promote enhanced access to needed health services; and to contribute to societal equity objectives, through an implicit financial transfer from rich to poor and healthy to sick. In principle, an optimal user charge policy can ensure that the social health insurance funds are used to best effect in pursuit of these objectives. This paper calls for a fundamental rethink of attitudes and policy towards user charges.

scholarly journals Towards Universal Health Coverage: An Analysis of the Health Insurance Coverage in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuff Olanrewaju Azeez ◽  
Yusuf Olalekan Babatunde ◽  
Damilola Babatunde ◽  
Joseph Olasupo ◽  
Elizabeth Alabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Services ◽  
National Health Insurance ◽  
Informal Sector ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
National Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Health Insurance Scheme ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Universal Health

Context: Achieving universal health coverage requires a Health Insurance Scheme that minimizes out-of-pocket expenditure, guarantees the provision of essential health services, and covers majority of the population. This study examines the NHIS, it's success, failures, efforts so far towards achieving UHC and overall, examines if Nigeria is progressing towards the achievement of universal health coverage. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a narrative review of published articles on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) coverage in Nigeria. Pubmed and Google Scholar were searched with the following keywords: National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Success, Failure, Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Results: NHIS has failed in its inclusiveness and covers only about 5% of the general population, mainly from the formal sector while most from the informal sector are excluded. Certain factors such as the inadequate legal framework for a successful scheme, optional enrollment policy, poor funding and lack of political will are responsible for the failure of the NHIS. Conclusions: Revising the NHIS to cover all segments of the society including remote areas and ensuring the insured have access to health services at all hospitals and health centers across the country is essential in attaining the third sustainable development goal in Nigeria. Also, there is need for intensify public awareness programs to enlighten the people and relevant groups on the positive values of the scheme. The attributes of the scheme should be well publicized in a way that both the formal and informal sector would understand clearly. This might involve the use of all local languages spoken in different parts of the country.

Achieving Universal Health Coverage as a Goal of Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-280
Author(s):  
Zh. V. Pisarenko ◽  
Thi Mai Doan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Financing System ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Universal Health

Aim. The presented study aims to analyze and identify the “bottlenecks” Vietnam may face on the way to achieving the goal of universal health coverage of the country’s population.Tasks. The authors analyze the situation regarding the implementation of sustainable development goals in terms of ensuring the availability of health services; assess the situation regarding the availability of health services in Vietnam; assess the potential of health insurance to achieve universal health coverage as a goal of Vietnam’s socio-economic development.Methods. This study uses statistical, empirical, and comparative analysis.Results. Achieving the goal of universal health coverage in the country requires more than just financing health care. It reflects the importance of ensuring equal access to quality health services and enforcing the right to health, especially for vulnerable groups. The authors analyze population coverage, the organization of the financing system, and the cost of medical care for households. Funding for health programs in Vietnam is increasing. However, due to the enduring poverty in the country, households spending a large share of their own funds on health services, and the number of challenges associated with the COVID-19 new coronavirus pandemic, there is still a risk of not achieving the goal of universal coverage in the near term.Conclusions. To achieve the set goal, Vietnam needs to introduce effective mechanisms of compulsory and voluntary health insurance (VHI). This additional financial protection is seen as a way to enable more people to use the necessary services without the risk of catastrophic health care costs, thus effectively approaching the goal of universal health coverage for the citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV).

scholarly journals Access to primary healthcare services and associated factors in urban slums in Nairobi-Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter O. Otieno ◽  
Elvis Omondi Achach Wambiya ◽  
Shukri M Mohamed ◽  
Martin Kavao Mutua ◽  
Peter M Kibe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Urban Slums ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Access To Primary Care ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background: Access to primary healthcare is crucial for the delivery of Kenya’s universal health coverage (UHC) policy. However, disparities in healthcare have proved to be the biggest challenge for implementing primary care in poor-urban resource settings. In this study, we assessed the level of access to primary healthcare services and associated factors in urban slums in Nairobi-Kenya. Methods: The data were drawn from the Lown scholars’ study of 300 randomly selected households in Viwandani slums (Nairobi, Kenya), between June and July 2018. Access to primary care was measured using Penchansky and Thomas’ model. Access index was constructed using principal component analysis and recoded into tertiles with categories labeled as poor, moderate and highest. Generalized ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with access to primary care. The adjusted odds ratios and 95 percent confident intervals were used to interpret the strength of associations. Results : The odds of being in the lowest versus combined moderate and highest access tertile were significantly higher for female than male-headed households (AOR 1.91 [95% CI 1.03-3.54]; p < .05). Households with an average quarterly out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure of ≥$30 had significantly lower odds of being in the lowest versus combined moderate and highest access tertile compared to those spending ≤ $5 quarterly (AOR 0.33 [95% CI 0.50-1.90]; p< .001). Households that sought care from private facilities had significantly higher odds of being in the lowest versus combined moderate and highest access compared to the public facilities (AOR 3.77 [95% CI 2.16-6.56]; p < .05). Conclusion : In Nairobi slums in Kenya, living in a female-headed household and seeking care from private facilities are significantly associated with low access to primary care. Therefore, the design of the UHC program in this setting should prioritize the regulation of private health facilities and focus on policies that encourage economic empowerment of female-headed households to improve access to primary healthcare. Keywords: Access to primary healthcare, Universal health coverage, Urban slums, Penchansky and Thomas’s model.

scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators to health insurance enrolment among people working in the informal sector in Morogoro, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Elisante Abraham ◽  
Cindy Gray ◽  
Adeniyi Fagbamigbe ◽  
Fabrizio Tediosi ◽  
Brianna Otesinky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Informal Sector ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Health Financing ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Universal Health

Background: Health insurance is a crucial pathway towards the achievement of universal health coverage. In Tanzania, health-financing reforms are underway to speed up universal health coverage in the informal sector. Despite improved Community Health Fund (iCHF) rollout, iCHF enrolment remains a challenge in the informal sector. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of local women food vendors (LWFV) and Bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) drivers on factors that challenge and facilitate their enrolment in iCHF. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Morogoro Municipality through in-depth interviews with LWFV (n=24) and Bodaboda drivers (n=26), and two focus group discussions with LWFV (n=8) and Bodaboda drivers (n=8). Theory of planned behaviour (TPB) constructs (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived control) provided a framework for the study and informed a thematic analysis focusing on the barriers and facilitators of iCHF enrolment. Results: The views of LWFV and Bodaboda drivers on factors that influence iCHF enrolment converged. Three main barriers emerged: lack of knowledge about the iCHF (attitude); negative views from friends and families (subjective norms); and inability to overcome challenges, such as the quality and range of health services available to iCHF members and iCHF not being accepted at non-government facilities (perceived control). A number of facilitators were identified, including opinions that enrolling to iCHF made good financial sense (attitude), encouragement from already-enrolled friends and relatives (subjective norms) and the belief that enrolment payment is affordable (perceived control). Conclusions: Results suggest that positive attitudes supported by perceived control and encouragement from significant others could potentially motivate LWFV and Bodaboda drivers to enroll in iCHF. However, more targeted information about the scheme is needed for individuals in the informal sector. There is also a need to ensure that quality health services are available, including coverage for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and that non-government facilities accept iCHF.

Smart Cards for All: Digitalisation of Universal Health Coverage in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-443
Author(s):  
Marine Al Dahdah ◽  
Rajiv K. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Smart Card ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Public Private Partnership ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Indian States ◽  
Private Partnership ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Universal Health

In less than ten years, India has launched colossal biometric databases. One among them is related to the first ‘free’ health coverage scheme offered by the government of India: the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY). Based on a public–private partnership between government and private companies, RSBY national scheme was launched in 2008, as a first step towards universal health coverage in a country where households endorse 70% of health expenses. The first phase of RSBY offers to cover ₹30,000 ($600) of inpatient expenses per year for five members of a below poverty line household and is now piloted in several Indian States to include outpatient expenses and above poverty line families too. RSBY relies exclusively on a centralised digital artefact to function, made visible by the ‘RSBY Smart Card’, a chip enabled plastic card containing personal data of individual and their family counting and conditioning the granting of health services to them; thus, no smart card means no health coverage. Till date 120 million Indians have been registered in the RSBY database. This article analyses how health accessibility is crafted under the RSBY scheme by questioning two central dimensions of this data-driven digital health scheme: the smart card technology and the public–private partnership, whereas RSBY scheme promises health coverage for all, its digital infrastructures may complicate access to health services, and reveal new patterns of exclusion of individuals. Thus, we will detail how smartcards technologies and private providers condition access to health care in India.

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