Who pays for health care in Ghana?
Author Information
Author(s): Akazili James, Gyapong John, McIntyre Diane
Primary Institution: Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service
Hypothesis
This paper seeks to investigate the extent to which paying for health care relates to people's ability to pay and to investigate the relative progressivity of each of the financing mechanisms.
Conclusion
Ghana's health care financing system is generally progressive, but out-of-pocket payments are regressive and disproportionately affect the poor.
Supporting Evidence
- Ghana's health care financing system is generally progressive.
- Out-of-pocket payments account for 45% of funding and are regressive.
- Direct taxes are progressive, while informal sector NHI contributions are regressive.
Takeaway
This study looks at how health care costs are shared in Ghana, showing that richer people pay more, but poor people still end up paying a lot when they need care.
Methodology
The study used secondary data from the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) 2005/2006 and complemented it with primary household data collected in six districts.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the reliance on self-reported data and the challenges in accurately measuring household income and consumption.
Limitations
The study relies on data from surveys that may not capture all aspects of health care financing and may not be fully representative of the entire population.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed data from 8,687 households across various socio-economic groups in Ghana.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.000
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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