scholarly journals In search of universal health coverage – highlighting the accessibility of health services for students with disabilities in Ghana: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Abodey ◽  
Irene Vanderpuye ◽  
Isaac Mensah ◽  
Eric Badu
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Accessibility Of Health Services ◽  
The Government ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background: Accessibility to health services for students with disabilities is a global concern. This is no less important in Ghana, however, to date, no study has been undertaken regarding access to health services for students with disabilities. This study, therefore, aims to explore the accessibility of health services for students with disabilities, in the quest of achieving universal health coverage in Ghana. Methods: Qualitative methods, involving in-depth interviews were employed to collect data from 54 participants (29 students with disabilities, 17 health workers and 8 school mothers), selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results : The study identified three themes – accessibility, adequacy, and affordability. The study findings highlighted that universal health coverage for students with disabilities has not been achieved due to barriers in accessing health services. The barriers faced by students with disabilities are unfriendly physical environments, structures, equipment, limited support services and poor health insurance policy to finance health services. Conclusion : The study concludes that the government should prioritize disability-related issues in health policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. The current provisions and requirements in the disability act should be prioritized, enforced and monitored to ensure adequate inclusion of disability issues in health services. Further, the current exemption policy under the NHIS scheme should be revised to adequately address the needs of people with disabilities.

scholarly journals In search of universal health coverage – highlighting the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities in Ghana: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Abodey ◽  
Irene Vanderpuye ◽  
Isaac Mensah ◽  
Eric Badu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
The Government ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background: Accessibility of health care to students with disabilities is a global concern. This is no less important in Ghana, however, to date, no study has been undertaken regarding access to health care to students with disabilities. This study, therefore, aims to explore the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities, in the quest of achieving universal health coverage in Ghana. Methods: Qualitative methods, involving in-depth interviews were employed to collect data from 54 participants (29 students with disabilities, 17 health workers and 8 school mothers), selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results : The study identified three themes – accessibility, adequacy, and affordability. The study findings highlighted that universal health coverage for students with disabilities has not been achieved due to barriers in accessing health care. The barriers faced by students with disabilities were unfriendly physical environments, structures, equipment, limited support services and poor health insurance policy to finance health care. Conclusion : The study concludes that the government should prioritize disability-related issues in health policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. The current provisions and requirements in the disability act should be prioritized, enforced and monitored to ensure adequate inclusion of disability issues in health services. Further, the current exemption policy under the National Health Insurance Scheme should be revised to adequately address the needs of people with disabilities.

scholarly journals In search of universal health coverage – highlighting the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities in Ghana: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Abodey ◽  
Irene Vanderpuye ◽  
Isaac Mensah ◽  
Eric Badu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
The Government ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background: Accessibility of health care to students with disabilities is a global concern. This is no less important in Ghana, however, to date, no study has been undertaken regarding access to health care to students with disabilities. This study, therefore, aims to explore the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities, in the quest of achieving universal health coverage in Ghana. Methods: Qualitative methods, involving in-depth interviews were employed to collect data from 54 participants (29 students with disabilities, 17 health workers and 8 school mothers), selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results : The study identified three themes – accessibility, adequacy, and affordability. The study findings highlighted that universal health coverage for students with disabilities has not been achieved due to barriers in accessing health care. The barriers faced by students with disabilities were unfriendly physical environments, structures, equipment, limited support services and poor health insurance policy to finance health care. Conclusion : The study concludes that the government should prioritize disability-related issues in health policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. The current provisions and requirements in the disability act should be prioritized, enforced and monitored to ensure adequate inclusion of disability issues in health services. Further, the current exemption policy under the National Health Insurance Scheme should be revised to adequately address the needs of people with disabilities.

scholarly journals In search of universal health coverage – highlighting the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities in Ghana: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Abodey ◽  
Irene Vanderpuye ◽  
Isaac Mensah ◽  
Eric Badu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
The Government ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background: Accessibility of health care to students with disabilities is a global concern. This is no less important in Ghana, however, to date, no study has been undertaken regarding access to health care to students with disabilities. This study, therefore, aims to explore the accessibility of health care to students with disabilities, in the quest of achieving universal health coverage in Ghana. Methods: Qualitative methods, involving in-depth interviews were employed to collect data from 54 participants (29 students with disabilities, 17 health workers and 8 school mothers), selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The study identified three themes – accessibility, adequacy, and affordability. The study findings highlighted that universal health coverage for students with disabilities has not been achieved due to barriers in accessing health care. The barriers faced by students with disabilities were unfriendly physical environments, structures, equipment, limited support services and poor health insurance policy to finance health care. Conclusion: The study concludes that the government should prioritize disability-related issues in health policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. The current provisions and requirements in the disability act should be prioritized, enforced and monitored to ensure adequate inclusion of disability issues in health services. Further, the current exemption policy under the National Health Insurance Scheme should be revised to adequately address the needs of people with disabilities.

scholarly journals Achieving universal health coverage in small island states: could importing health services provide a solution?

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariyam Suzana ◽  
Helen Walls ◽  
Richard Smith ◽  
Johanna Hanefeld
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Small Island ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Medical Travel ◽  
Universal Health

BackgroundUniversal health coverage (UHC) is difficult to achieve in settings short of medicines, health workers and health facilities. These characteristics define the majority of the small island developing states (SIDS), where population size negates the benefits of economies of scale. One option to alleviate this constraint is to import health services, rather than focus on domestic production. This paper provides empirical analysis of the potential impact of this option.MethodsAnalysis was based on publicly accessible data for 14 SIDS, covering health-related travel and health indicators for the period 2003–2013, together with in-depth review of medical travel schemes for the two highest importing SIDS—the Maldives and Tuvalu.FindingsMedical travel from SIDS is accelerating. The SIDS studied generally lacked health infrastructure and technologies, and the majority of them had lower than the recommended number of physicians in a country, which limits their capacity for achieving UHC. Tuvalu and the Maldives were the highest importers of healthcare and notably have public schemes that facilitate medical travel and help lower the out-of-pocket expenditure on medical travel. Although different in approach, design and performance, the medical travel schemes in Tuvalu and the Maldives are both examples of measures used to increase access to health services that cannot feasibly be provided in SIDS.InterpretationOur findings suggest that importing health services (through schemes to facilitate medical travel) is a potential mechanism to help achieve universal healthcare for SIDS but requires due diligence over cost, equity and quality control.

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 Unique health identifiers for universal health coverage

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Mills ◽  
Jane Kim Lee ◽  
Bahie Mary Rassekh ◽  
Martina Zorko Kodelja ◽  
Green Bae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Identity Management ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Vital Event ◽  
Identification Number ◽  
Civil Registration ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Number Systems ◽  
The Government ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Identifying everyone residing in a country, especially the poor, is an indispensable part of pursuing universal health coverage (UHC). Having information on an individuals’ financial protection is also imperative for measuring the progress of UHC. This paper examines different ways of instituting a system of unique health identifiers that can lead toward achieving UHC, particularly in relation to utilizing universal civil registration and national unique identification number systems. Civil registration is a fundamental function of the government that establishes a legal identity for individuals and enables them to access essential public services. National unique identification numbers assigned at birth registration can further link their vital event information with data collected in different sectors, including in finance and health. Some countries use the national unique identification number as the unique health identifier, such as is done in South Korea and Thailand. In other countries, a unique health identifier is created in addition to the national unique identification number, but the two numbers are linked; Slovenia offers an example of this arrangement. The advantages and disadvantages of the system types are discussed in the paper. In either approach, linking the health system with the civil registration and national identity management systems contributed to advancing effective and efficient UHC programs in those countries.

scholarly journals Politicking with Health Care and Its Implications for the Attainment of Universal Health Coverage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aloysius Odii ◽  
Pamela Ogbozor ◽  
Charles Orjiakor ◽  
Prince Agwu ◽  
Obinna Onwujekwe
Keyword(s):  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Background Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are acknowledged key to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) owing to their closeness to the grass-root and the constant patronage by low- and middle-income class citizens. An impediment to the efficiency of PHCs is the nature of politics on-going in its operation beginning from its physical construction, employment of staff, among others. This study provides evidence of politicking marring the efficiency of PHCs as well as possible solutions to the issue. Method The study was carried out in eight purposively selected PHC facilities drawn from three local government areas in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria. Data were collected using in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). The IDIs involved sixteen participants that cut across frontline health workers, heads and supervisors of health units at the local governments, and chairpersons of the health facility committees (HFCCs). In addition, four FGDs were held with male and female service users of the facilities. Findings It was discovered that certain powerful community members influenced the locations of PHCs, even when the general community is disfavoured by such decision. Powerful group of persons equally influence the recruitment and sanctioning of healthcare staff. The consequences include weak patronage of the facilities and poor healthcare delivery. Of the several solutions, obtaining localised support from powerful persons in the community to enforce fairness featured strongly. Conclusions The politics around primary healthcare is a threat to the achievement of UHC, since it discourages patronage and encourages inefficiency of healthcare staff. To overcome this, there is the need to facilitate genuine participation of community members and implementing local actions and policies in the facilitation of PHCs, and also, rapidly addressing the excesses of powerful groups and individuals. Key words: Primary Health Centre; Politicking; Universal Health Coverage; Power; Politics

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