Legal framework for national health insurance in Nigeria and Ghana: a comparative analysis

Abstract

A comparative analysis is made of the legal framework for National Health Insurance in Nigeria and Ghana from the prism of organisational structure, coverage, financing mechanism and benefit package with a view to determining the relevance and adequacy of the Nigerian archetype of health insurance in providing qualitative healthcare services to the citizenry. Our major conclusion is that unlike the Ghanaian health insurance scheme which has extended coverage to quite a large number of the population, health insurance is still a mirage to a larger percentage of the Nigerian citizenry especially the vulnerable groups because of the identified limitations in terms of coverage, financing and benefit package of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Requisite reform proposals to address these lacunae within the context of the general health care system are offered in order that the health insurance law in Nigeria may be sufficiently strengthened to make it internationally competitive, fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of the average Nigerian for qualitative healthcare services and to enhance the overall productivity of the nation. The article concludes with a call for effective integration of the primary health care system as a foundation for having a truly universal health insurance scheme in Nigeria.