Studies from University of Nigeria Update Current Data on Health Systems and Reform (Strategic Health Purchasing in Nigeria: Investigating Governance and Institutional Capacities within Federal Tax-Funded Health Schemes and the Formal Sector …): Health and Medicine – Health Systems and Reform

2022 JUN 29 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Fresh data on health systems and reform are presented in a new report. According to news reporting originating from Enugu, Nigeria, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “For Nigeria to make progress on its commitment to universal health coverage, additional public funding will be required. But more resources alone will not be enough.”

Funders for this research include Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from University of Nigeria: “Government health spending must be more efficient and effective, through more strategic purchasing-a critical policy tool. Studies on health purchasing in Nigeria’s health financing schemes are limited, however. This study examines the purchasing arrangements in schemes funded by the federal budget and in the Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme (FSSHIP) within the National Health Insurance Scheme. We adopted a qualitative, descriptive case-study approach and collected data through document reviews and key informant interviews based on the Strategic Health Purchasing Progress Tracking Framework. Our analysis used a thematic framework approach. Our findings reveal that legal frameworks and governance structures for strategic purchasing are in place for both schemes. Steps toward strategic purchasing are more advanced in FSSHIP, particularly in the design of benefit packages, accreditation and monitoring of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and providers, and provider payment mechanisms. The limited share of health funding flowing through these mechanisms, and further fragmentation of that funding, impede strategic purchasing.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Strategic purchasing is also hampered by weak regulation and monitoring of providers and purchasers, delays in provider payment, and corrupt practices by HMOs. Improving strategic purchasing in Nigeria will require a concerted effort to reduce fragmentation of health spending, significant investment in human resources, technical know-how, and information systems of purchasing institutions, and actions to improve the accountability of all actors in the system.”

For more information on this research see: Strategic Health Purchasing in Nigeria: Investigating Governance and Institutional Capacities within Federal Tax-Funded Health Schemes and the Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme. Health Systems & Reform, 2022,8(2). The publisher for Health Systems & Reform is Taylor & Francis Group.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/23288604.2022.2074630.

Our news journalists report that more information may be obtained by contacting Uchenna Ezenwaka, Health Policy Research Group, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria. Additional authors for this research include Agnes Gatome-Munyua, Chikezie Nwankwor, Nkechi Olalere, Nneka Orji, Uchenna Ewelike, Benjamin Uzochukwu, Obinna Onwujekwe.

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