Factors affecting the adaptability of international health management practices by the national hospital insurance fund (NHIF) in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors affecting the adaptability of international health management practices by the national hospital insurance fund (NHIF) in Kenya. The adoption of international health management practices is important to the government of Kenya not only to improve its customer service but also to acquire the international standards of health management. To this effect, the general objective of the study was to determine the factors affecting the adaptability of international health management practices by NHIF. These international health management practices are namely Capitation and Fee-For-Service and are being used to administer the out-patient cover by NHIF. The specific objectives of the study were To establish the extent to which the NHIF management and workers have understood the international health management practices Capitation and Fee-For-Service; to establish the perception of the NHIF management and workers regarding the uptake of these international health management practices and to identify the specific factors that the management and workers of NHIF are facing as regards the uptake of international health management practices. It was established that the initiative to introduce international health management practices by NHIF was a welcome change by the workers and that most of them were optimistic about its benefits. However there were a number of concerns noted that would affect how well this management practices, namely, Capitation and Fee-For-Service would be adapted by the workers and management of NHIF. The study found that the workers needed more training on the workings of these two health management practices so as to understand them better and hence know how to apply them correctly in the running of NHIF. The study also found that most of the workers thought the premiums charged were high and that this also affected their willingness to see the implementation of the new practices work because it would also affect them as they are also deducted.