NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME IN NIGERIA

1.0 INTRODUCTION 
This research work is a protection into the future of National health insurance scheme; financing through insurance in Nigeria. This work will serve as a survey on how Nigerians in general will react towards the operation of National health insurance scheme. Many researchers have made numerous proposals on how the scheme should be operated, but now the scheme has started. It will be proper to examine the market reactions, acceptability and its effect on the economy.
Moreover since the Logan “health care for all by the year 2000” is within its reality, it is felt that for such to be achieved, National health insurance scheme should take place. And the government, ministry of health and the general public should control the scheme. It has been noted that health insurance is more advanced and modern alternative to the tax-financed.
Nat with standing, this work gave a view of what National health insurance is, its forms, its benefits and other important aspects that will put a layman through on what National health insurance is. It was noticed that as government has taken up the scheme, it will encounter a lot of challenges and difficulties. This research work included recommendations on how the government could subdue such difficulties and challenges of health are delivery.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY 
Since 1981 when the Nigerian medical Association held a conference in Calabar and Dr. E.M Umez Sroums delivered aa paper on “National health insurance” A practical approach to health care financing in a developing economy. He said that there has been growing need for National health insurance scheme in Nigeria. This issue has engaged the attention of medical doctors, insurance executive, the federal government of Nigeria, and Nigerian Newspapers which have carried a member of headlines on the topic. 
But now the scheme has become a reality. The federal government lunched the scheme on 6th June 2005. Base on the establishment of the scheme, the purpose of providing health insurance which shall entitle insured persons and their dependents the benefit of prescribed good quality and cost effective health services as set out in this Decree. That is Decree of 2000. The body established for the management of the scheme are: 
A governing council which shall subject to the decree, which has general control of the scheme. The council shall consist of the following members:
The chairman who shall be appointed by the head of state. Commander in chief of minister of health. Others are: each person to represent ministry of health, fiancé, government of the federation, Nigeria labour congress, N.E.C.A, private health care provided to carryout a research on this subject in order to highlight the problems militating against the scheme or problems which the scheme will face. Its prospects and make recommendations which will ensure the success of the scheme here in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS 
A lot have been done by various groups and bodies in order to come up with a benefiting scheme that will achieve an effective goal of health care for all Nigerians, which has been in highlights of government programmes. 
There are problems that night hinder the effective national health insurance scheme in Nigeria.
i) Inadequate public Enlightment on the need for national health insurance service.
ii) The population of Nigerians did not welcome the scheme 
iii) Non introduction of phase by phase structurally scheme.
iv) Its marketing strategies and means of operating the scheme 
v) Non support of masses in response to the scheme for seminar.
In order to improve health care delivery system in Nigeria; the researcher must ensure that this research will problems that might hinder the effective National health insurance scheme in Nigeria.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 
Based on the problems surrounding the scheme. This work will examine. 
i) How far insurance industry has gone in seeding to the effective of National health insurance scheme in Nigeria.
ii) The out come of various committees established to make that National health insurance scheme to be a successful one in Nigeria.
iii) To know the peoples reaction and market acceptability of the scheme.
iv) To recommend through these research work proper guidelines and means which the scheme will operate in our country for a complete market acceptance by all Nigerians.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 
This projects will be of great importance to all Nigerians who for long shares same view that our Nation Nigeria need to adopt a health care insurance that will fair of loss cost, efficient and effective in the administration and operation.
However, on more pronounce detail, this study’s importance on individual basis that will be of help if its recommendation are adopted to facilitate the immediate acceptance of National health insurance by all, it will create health care finance awareness on a model way which will encourage personal contribution of ideas fiancé and materials towards ensuring a good health care delivery to all.
Organization, institutions and business entities who spent huge amount of money for there employees and families for health insurance will becomes operational in Nigeria. This will be achieved of such scheme is adopted in line with the research recommendation and the little amount saved will be channeled to other profitable venture.
Nigerians will also fire the study beneficial, if the guideline and recommendation are adopted in establishing National health insurance scheme in Nigeria which will obtain its health for all by the scheme.
The health sector will witness efficiency the scheme will eliminate corruption indiscipline, fraud and ensuring death reduction from, all health, this in variable will lead to an increase in Nigeria citizens due to in improving bur artic and depressed health care delivery system will on establishing National health insurance scheme will fined Nigeria a worthy place to live and their money.

1.5 Scope and limitation of the study
This work for easier understanding and implementation covers all analytical research aimed within the country for the establishment of health insurance including the held since 1990 till date for the establishment of National health insurance scheme. As National health insurance scheme has introduced now there are some problems that its prospects and problems that its prospects and problems in the economy. During the project some problems faces the research they are:
Financial constraint 
Time constraint 
Knowing how the public will react as the scheme has been introduced today.
To identifying the suitable type of National health insurance in operating such scheme.
How to engage a massive support from all Nigerian if the response to the scheme is now. 
Its marketing strategies and means of operating such scheme.
Those problems as mentioned will be relayed in details how each a constraint to this research work.
Financial contrant 
Due to lack of enough fund, the researcher could not meet all required financial obligations which the work demands, this never, resulted to a few limitations.
Time constraint
As we know time is never on anyone’s side, so it was a constraint to our research work because there was other programmes such as examination quiz and other academic works which fell exactly within the period of our research work and all these programmes plus the research demanded till the same and equal attention.

1.6 Definition of terms 
i) Insurance company: A company registered or demand to be registered under the companies and Allied Matter Decree of 1997.
ii) Health: It is a sound of bodily or mental condition of a person. 
iii) Health insurance: The ability to get health services when required without having to pay fully at the time of need either because payment has previously been made by regular contributions by the insured or his/her employer or both.
iv) Health care delivery: The act or process of administering effective medication and hospitalization to sick people in a community at a reduce rate.
v) Capitation: Registered payment on personal basis to a doctor for giving health service to a person concerned when necessary.
vi) National health insurance scheme: It is a body corporate established under Act 35 of 1999 by the federal government of Nigeria to improve the health of all Nigeria at an affordable cost.