Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nhis Healthcare Services in Enhancing Staff Access to Medical Care in South-East Nigeria's Federal Tertiary Institutions

Abstract

Access to affordable healthcare remains a major policy concern in Nigeria, where high out-of-pocket expenditure continues to limit equity and service utilization. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was established to promote financial protection and improve access to quality medical care, yet its operational effectiveness across tertiary institutions remains uncertain. This study evaluated the effectiveness of NHIS healthcare services in enhancing staff access to medical care in selected federal tertiary institutions in South-East Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised 6,500 NHIS-enrolled staff, from which a sample of 400 respondents was drawn using Yamane’s formula. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, validated by expert review, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings revealed that NHIS services were moderately effective, particularly in affordability and timeliness, but constrained by administrative inefficiency and limited staff awareness. Regression results showed that administrative efficiency, service quality, and awareness jointly influenced overall effectiveness (R² = 0.612, p < 0.05). It was concluded that improving NHIS effectiveness requires enhanced administrative responsiveness, better service delivery standards, and continuous staff sensitization.