New Health Insurance Findings Reported from B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (Assessment of Community Based Health Insurance in Sunsari District)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Managed Care Weekly Digest -- Research findings on Health Insurance are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting originating in Dharan, Nepal, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, "Background Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) Schemes are promising alternatives for a cost sharing health care system which hopefully leads to better utilization of health care services, reduce illness related income shocks and eventually lead to a sustainable and fully functioning universal health coverage. This study focused on factors influencing the people's enrolment and hindrances for enrollment of CBHI program."

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, "Altogether 316 households were taken according to population proportionate sampling method.Community based cross-sectional analytical study was carried out with preformed questionnaire among members and non-member in four villages. Sample unit for enrollee were selected by using population proportionate systematic random sampling method using enrolled register and for non-enroll systematic random sampling technique was used using household list from VDC. For non-members 28.3% small benefit package was main reason for non membership. Provision of partial payment would be a motivating factor for 26.4% of the respondents. Non-members (30.5%) felt disparities in treatment while providing good medicines (11.9%). Financial help for the treatment was good part of the program for 43.0% of the respondents. Among 9.3% of members who would not renew reported of tedious process of taking service as the main reason. The educational status of the respondents is directly related to the enrolment in the CBHI scheme (<0.001). The study gave some insight about factors influencing the utilization of health insurance schemes in low resourced countries."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Properly implemented CBHI schemes would add on better health financing and better utilization of health care in developing countries."

For more information on this research see: Assessment of Community Based Health Insurance in Sunsari District. Kathmandu University Medical Journal, 2018;16(61):53-59 (see also Health Insurance).

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting L. Subedi, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. Additional authors for this research include M.C. Regmi and Y. Giri.

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