Economic Cost of Malaria Treatment under the Health Insurance Scheme in the Savelugu-Nanton District of Ghana

Abstract

The paper discusses the findings of a survey which explored the implications of access to health care by examining costs incurred by health insurance card holders in the Savelugu-Nanton District. Treatment for malaria, a disease that causes morbidity and mortality in Sub-Sahara Africa, based on the Cost of Illness Approach (CIA) was used to compute the cost of health care. An analysis of the survey data showed that health seeking behaviour was consistent with economic theorists who argue that cost-benefit considerations influence the behaviour and actions of individuals who benefit from health insurance. While the dominant motive for obtaining health insurance was to have access to affordable health care, solidarity appeared to be low among members of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme. The cost of malaria treatment borne by patients under health insurance was valued at GH¢ 71.3 or US$ 46.20 (2009 prices). While indirect costs were disproportionately greater than direct costs, the study affirmed that health insurance generally insulate subscribers from monetary payments which in itself increases both attendance and utilisation of health services even though the implication of this phenomenon on time loss and productivity appear to be rather enormous.

Key Words: Health Insurance Scheme, Cost of Illness, Human Capital, Malaria, User fees.