Medicina Comunitária e Educação em Saúde

Abstrato

Health Insurance Coverage and Utilization of Health Services among Educated Urban Citizens of a Developing Country

Adil SO, Akber S, Sheikh H, Mustafa MW

Background: Easy access to healthcare is a challenge for developing countries. This study aims to determine the health insurance status and utilization of health services among educated urban citizens of Pakistan. Methods: An online survey was conducted and 700 individuals with a minimum of 14 years of education were contacted via emails and messages on social media. Google spread sheet was used to gather all the information. Participation was completely voluntary and anonymous. Information was collected regarding health insurance coverage, reasons for not availing health insurance, monthly health expenditure, problem incurred in getting treatment from a doctor and hindrance in getting medicine in the last 12 months. Results: The response rate was 14.14%. A majority i.e. 30.3% of the participants worked in private companies. Among 44.8% of the study participants, the most common reason behind non-health insurance coverage was financial. The odds of having health insurance coverage was 4.94 times higher in people who faced problem in getting treatment from a doctor in last 12 months than those who did not face problem (AOR: 4.94, 95% CI: 0.33-72.46). In addition, the odds of health insurance coverage was found 14.17 times higher in people who had problem in getting medicines in last 12 months than those who did not had any hindrance (AOR: 14.17, 95% CI: 1.02-197.35). Conclusion: The present survey showed significant financial obstacles in accessing health coverage among individuals with no health insurance. Most of the people who had health insurance were those who have faced problems in getting medical treatment during the past 12 months. Effective health insurance reform and efforts to improve health insurance coverage is needed particularly in the developing countries.