HEALTHCARE SCHEMES AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY KENYA

Elizabeth Njeri Kamau, Dr. Caroline Kimutai

Abstract


Since the devolution of the health sector to the counties, performance in public health hospitals in Kenya has been an issue of concern in terms of inefficiencies resulting to poor service delivery and lack of quality of care in the hospitals. Despite the high coverage of NHIF, financial performance in public hospitals in Kenya has been an issue of concern. The overall goal of this research is to look at the impact of healthcare schemes on public hospital financial performance in Nairobi City County. The specific objectives were to establish the effect of Civil Servants scheme, HISP scheme, Linda Mama scheme and National scheme on the financial performance of public hospitals in Nairobi City County. The descriptive design was applied in this study. The population of interest comprised of the 80 public hospitals in Nairobi City County where the census technique was used. The study covered a period of 2 years that included the year 2019 and 2020. The secondary data was collected through a data collection sheet. The study carried out descriptive statistics and inferential analysis such as Pearson correlation and multiple regression model was used to assess the collective effect of four independent variables on the dependent variable. The study used Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) as a data analysis tool. It was concluded that Civil Servants scheme, Health Insurance Subsidy programme, Linda Mama scheme and National scheme had a positive and strong effect on the financial performance of public hospitals in Nairobi City County in terms of operating surplus/deficit. It was recommended that NHIF put in place good financial management practices to enhance the accountability of the funds directed to the Civil Servants Scheme. NHIF should increase the level of funding through the Health Insurance Subsidy scheme as the scheme target the near poor people who may not afford health insurance. NHIF should sensitize more women to join the Linda Mama scheme so that they get prenatal and antenatal care through proper delivery in hospitals. NHIF should sensitize the public and especially those in the informal sector who are not covered by the National scheme on the importance of coverage while at the same time enhancing the accountability of the funds contributed.

Keywords: Civil Servants Scheme, HISP Scheme, Linda Mama Scheme, National Scheme, Financial Performance


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References


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