A new weekly poll results by NOI Polls shows 79 percent of Nigerians do not have access to health insurance. The poll also revealed that almost 45 percent Nigerians rely on private hospitals/ healthcare facilities for their healthcare needs, with 25 percent Federal Government Hospitals (25percent) coming a distant second.

 

However, the Poll identified poor healthcare facilities and the lack of facilities in some instances as the main factors responsible for the high rate of infant mortality experienced in the country.

 

The latest poll on the healthcare system which held from 2nd week in May, 2013 is expected that the results & findings from the poll will highlight the perceptions of Nigerians and stimulate commentary to proffer recommendations to strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

 

Participants in the poll answered five specific questions to establish the type of healthcare facility mainly used by Nigerians.

 

Results showed that almost 5 in 10 respondents (45 percent) use Private Hospitals and Health Facilities; followed by 25 percent who use Federal Government Hospitals. Furthermore, 13 percent of the respondents stated that they use State Government hospitals, and 10 percent simply use Pharmacies/Drug stores. Other facilities used include Traditional Healthcare (3 percent), Local Government Hospitals/Health Centres (2 percent), and Faith Healing Centres (1 percent).

 

Respondents were subsequently asked: Do you have access to any form of health insurance? From the results, almost 8 in 10 respondents (79 percent) answered negatively to the question, indicating that they do not have access to any form of health insurance. On the other hand, 21percent answered “Yes” to the question.

 

Furthermore, when analyzed across geo-political zones, the South-East region (26 perecnt) has the slight majority of respondents that claim to have access to health insurance; followed by the South-South and North-East with 23 percent each. Also, female respondents (24percent) appear to have a slight edge over male respondents (18 percent) when it comes to accessing health insurance.

 

Respondents that said they had access to Health Insurance were further asked: If yes, what form of Health Insurance do you have? The overall majority (59 percent) stated that they have access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

 

This is followed by 35 percent who say they have access to health insurance via a private Health Management Organisation (HMO) paid by their employer; and 6 percent who say they have access via a private HMO, but self-funded. The North-West has the highest proportion (83 percent) of respondents that benefit from NHIS, followed by the North-Central (81 percent).

 

Also, the South-West has the highest percentage of people (51 percent) with access to health insurance through their employers; while the South-South (15 percent) and South-East (12 percent) have the highest proportion of respondents with private HMO arrangements, which are self-funded.

 

By CHIOMA OBINNA