A Comparative Analysis Of The National Health Insurance Scheme In Nigeria And China

Abstract

This paper attempts a comparative analysis of the National Health Insurance Policies as obtained in Nigeria and China. The paper is basically qualitative in nature which employed the use of library-based documentation analysis. The paper examined the basic components of the policy objectives of the National Health Insurance Schemes in both countries and found that the Nigerian policy document is defective because there was no provision for universal health coverage as the insurance policy is only compulsory for the formal sector. The study identified that the National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria has been faced by a myriad of socio economic and institutional challenges such as poverty, obsolete health facilities, delay in reimbursement of insurance premium to participating health facilities, selective nature of medical cases covered by the scheme and lack of government commitment largely due to the corrupt nature of the public service. Comparatively, the Chinese Health Insurance Policy is comprehensive and all inclusive and has achieved nearly universal health coverage for its population. Statistics indicates that over 95% of the population has been covered by the scheme due to the health sector reforms and government commitment to funding by contributing about 5.6% of its total GDP to the sector. The study recommends that Nigeria should take a cue from Chinas’ Health Policy as a lesson for progress in her quest to achieve universal health coverage for all.