The effects of national health insurance scheme on utilization of health services at unilorin teaching hospital staff clinic, ilorin, nigeria

Introduction: The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was launched in Nigeria June, 2005 and covers public civil servants in Federal Establishments. Αim : This study compared the pattern of utilization of the staff clinic two years before and after the commencement of NHIS at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out using records of patients seen at staff clinic, Unilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin two years before and after the commencement of National Health Insurance Scheme. Information obtained from the hospital records was entered into the Epi-Info software of the computer. A p-value of dependants attended the staff clinic. Conclusion: National Health Insurance Scheme led to 144% increase in the utilization of health services at staff clinic of Unilorin Teaching Hospital. More studies need to be done to probe into factors responsible for this increase and to rule out possible abuse of the scheme.

Author(s): Salaudeen Adekunle

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