Patient Perceptions of the Impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme on Healthcare Service Delivery in Ghana: A Systematic Review

Perception of patients of National Health insurance scheme on service delivery

Abstract

Background: Patients in Ghana have conflicting perceptions about the impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on service delivery. While some acknowledge the scheme’s beneficial effects, others draw attention to its drawbacks. The objective of this study was to investigate how patients perceive the impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme on service delivery in Ghana.

Results: A total of 300 articles were downloaded from various databases: 40 from Science Direct, 20 from Google Scholar, 160 from PubMed, 50 from ProQuest, and 30 from Scopus. The review findings were categorized into financial access, fairness of care, effectiveness of treatment, attitudes of healthcare professionals, waiting time, and availability of drugs.

Conclusion: The study highlights the perceived benefits of NHIS in Ghana, including improved access to care, enhanced continuity of care, and alleviated financial burden on patients. However, challenges cast shadows on patient perception, such as negative attitudes of healthcare personnel, delays in accessing care, lack of coverage for critical services, unavailability of drugs, and concerns about service quality.