Summary (English)

This study examines the impact of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) on women in two Ghanaian Districts.  Ghana’s health system has undergone many changes since its independence in the late 1950s.   Ghana was originally committed to social protection but abandoned its efforts in the early 1980s due to financial constraints and an IMF imposed Structural Adjustment Plan.  In 2003, the government introduced the NHIS to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.   The results of this insurance scheme have been good.  The statistical analysis of this study shows that beneficiaries of the NHIS have relatively better health outcomes than non-beneficiaries.  The creation of this insurance system was a positive step towards accomplishing the health Millennium Development Goals.

Mensah, J., Oppong, J.R., Bobi-Barimah, K., Frempong, G. & Sabi, W. An evaluation of the Ghana National Health Insurance scheme in the context of the health MDG's. (The Human Science Resource Council: Commissioned by the Global Development Network (GDN), March 2010.)  http://www.hsrc.ac.za/Research_Publication-21974.phtml