Practices, Challenges And Opportunities Of Community Based Health Insurance In Welmera District, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The term of community based health insurance is an emerging concept to access affordable and effective health care in developing countries including Ethiopia and its introduction was aims to mobilize additional resources to health sector and pooling risks between the poor and the better off as well as the sick and healthy that improve equity, quality and access in health service delivery. However, out of pocket health expenditure still impoverishes poor households in rural and informal sector. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to examine the households’ perception, challenges and opportunities of community based health insurance: in Welmera district, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. To conduct this study, mixed research approach (qualitative and quantitative) was employed. The study is based on primary data collected from 133 household heads selected at random using schedule interview. Additional information was also obtained from key informants, focus group discussion and personal observation. The data has been analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software. The study finding disclosed that respondents do have positive or favorable attitude towards CBHI scheme and its role in promoting health condition of the community, and the scheme registration and enrollment. But the respondents have negative or unfavorable attitude towards trust on CBHI scheme and its management. This finding also discovered the major challenges of CBHI scheme such as Ensuring a Quality service Delivery System, Managing Insurance Administration, Trust on the CBHI Scheme; Lack of farness on Indigent households Selection, Introducing community based health insurance, Program Performance and Lack of community participation in the study area. The study also disclosed existing opportunities existing opportunities of introducing and implementation of CBHI such as health sector reform, General Subsidies, Targeted Subsidies for the poor, new partners in tackling health issues and learning from others' experience. This study has a significant role in filling research gaps, policy implication and sources of information within the limited literature on the issue at hand.