Effect of National Health Insurance Scheme on Public and Private Healthcare in Nigeria: A Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Adequate service provision by government and private sector in healthcare provision is  far-fetched. Various efforts made by government at different levels have not been able to  suffice leading to promulgation of a National Health Insurance Scheme to help proffer a  solution to the challenge. However, due to financial constraints by the government the  private sector joined in this pursuit to finding a lasting answer to the difficulty in  assessing healthcare services in the country. Studies have focused on assessment of  public and private healthcare service providers, but adequate attention has not been  given to the comparative perspective. This paper attempts to examine the effect of  National Health Insurance Scheme on Public and Private Healthcare delivery in Ile-Ife,  Osun State. An empirical study of workers in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching  Hospital and Seventh Day Teaching Hospital were undertaken. The paper notes that lack  of funds and poor implementation are part of the challenges faced in provision of  assessable healthcare. The paper proposes that stakeholders should make more funds  available and there should be creation of an enabling environment for more private  investors.