The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Objective:To explore the experiences of key stakeholders, including hospital managers, clinicians, and hospital-based State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) representatives, SCP's implementation challenges and successes. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was employed acros...

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Main Authors: Shifa Salman Habib, Anum Shaikh, Kiran Sohail Azeemi, Waqas Hameed, Junaid Ur Rehman Siddiqui, Ali Hussaini, Asma Altaf Hussain Merchant, Adil Haider, Sameen Siddiqi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pakistan Medical Association 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Online Access:https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/22959
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author Shifa Salman Habib
Anum Shaikh
Kiran Sohail Azeemi
Waqas Hameed
Junaid Ur Rehman Siddiqui
Ali Hussaini
Asma Altaf Hussain Merchant
Adil Haider
Sameen Siddiqi
author_facet Shifa Salman Habib
Anum Shaikh
Kiran Sohail Azeemi
Waqas Hameed
Junaid Ur Rehman Siddiqui
Ali Hussaini
Asma Altaf Hussain Merchant
Adil Haider
Sameen Siddiqi
author_sort Shifa Salman Habib
collection DOAJ
description Objective:To explore the experiences of key stakeholders, including hospital managers, clinicians, and hospital-based State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) representatives, SCP's implementation challenges and successes. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was employed across 38 empanelled public and private facilities in KP. Key informant interviews (n=103) were conducted until data saturation was reached, exploring barriers and facilitators within the SCP's operational framework. Data were analyzed using NVivo software, applying a mix of deductive and inductive approaches. Results: Strengths and enablers included a comprehensive benefits package design, a robust third-party administrative system, and the digitization of health management information systems for efficiency. Implementation barriers included low reimbursement rates affecting service quality at health facilities, documentation issues hindering patient access, uneven availability of services causing patient frustration, resource-intensive claim preparation with a slow reimbursement process, and a lack of quality assurance mechanisms. Conclusion: This study provides a nuanced understanding of the SCP implementation, highlighting the need for revisiting reimbursement rates, addressing documentation challenges, ensuring service availability, streamlining reimbursement processes, and strengthening quality assurance mechanisms. The SCP's comprehensive benefits package, effective purchaser-provider relationships, and digitization efforts emerge as key strengths that contribute to its success. Keywords: Sehat Card Program (SCP), Social Health Insurance, Implementation Challenges. Stakeholder Perspectives, Reimbursement Processes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Pakistan Medical Association
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spelling doaj-art-98faf8f8c9274b1ea6d1e2999b2b07792025-08-20T03:39:56ZengPakistan Medical AssociationJournal of the Pakistan Medical Association0030-99822024-11-017411 (Supple-11)10.47391/JPMA.SCPP-08The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, PakistanShifa Salman Habib0Anum Shaikh1Kiran Sohail Azeemi2Waqas Hameed3Junaid Ur Rehman Siddiqui4Ali Hussaini5Asma Altaf Hussain Merchant6Adil Haider7Sameen Siddiqi8Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan;Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan;Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan;Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan;Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan;Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan;The Clinical and Translational Research Centre, Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan;Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan; Objective:To explore the experiences of key stakeholders, including hospital managers, clinicians, and hospital-based State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC) representatives, SCP's implementation challenges and successes. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was employed across 38 empanelled public and private facilities in KP. Key informant interviews (n=103) were conducted until data saturation was reached, exploring barriers and facilitators within the SCP's operational framework. Data were analyzed using NVivo software, applying a mix of deductive and inductive approaches. Results: Strengths and enablers included a comprehensive benefits package design, a robust third-party administrative system, and the digitization of health management information systems for efficiency. Implementation barriers included low reimbursement rates affecting service quality at health facilities, documentation issues hindering patient access, uneven availability of services causing patient frustration, resource-intensive claim preparation with a slow reimbursement process, and a lack of quality assurance mechanisms. Conclusion: This study provides a nuanced understanding of the SCP implementation, highlighting the need for revisiting reimbursement rates, addressing documentation challenges, ensuring service availability, streamlining reimbursement processes, and strengthening quality assurance mechanisms. The SCP's comprehensive benefits package, effective purchaser-provider relationships, and digitization efforts emerge as key strengths that contribute to its success. Keywords: Sehat Card Program (SCP), Social Health Insurance, Implementation Challenges. Stakeholder Perspectives, Reimbursement Processes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/22959
spellingShingle Shifa Salman Habib
Anum Shaikh
Kiran Sohail Azeemi
Waqas Hameed
Junaid Ur Rehman Siddiqui
Ali Hussaini
Asma Altaf Hussain Merchant
Adil Haider
Sameen Siddiqi
The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
title The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_full The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_fullStr The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_short The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
title_sort experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in khyber pakhtunkhwa pakistan
url https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/22959
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