The Insights of Experienced Pharmacists Regarding the Iraqi health Insurance Program: A Qualitative Study(Conference Paper )#
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31351/vol31issSuppl.pp131-140Keywords:
Health insurance law, Health Insurance Authority, Service quality, Challenges, Perceptions, Qualitative study, interviews, Iraq, pharmacistsAbstract
The aim of study was to explore pharmacist insights toward the impact of prospective implementation of the national health insurance program on patients, providers and Iraqi health system.
This was a qualitative study including semi-structured face-to-face (mostly) interviews with experienced pharmacists. The interview guide included open-ended questions about the impact of the national health insurance program on patients and healthcare providers at three levels: quality of services, costs, and frequency of visits. Potential challenges were also discussed. Interviews were conducted in four provinces from March to May 2022. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview findings and generate themes and subthemes.
The study recruited 21 pharmacists till the saturation point has been reached. Most of the participants were aware of the new health insurance law. Most participants believed that the program can enhance patient health and would increase the income of healthcare providers (HCPs) in the private sector. They also expected that patients would use private-sector services more frequently. Additionally, the implementation of the health insurance can improve the quality of healthcare services and reduce the financial burden regarding private sector fees. The potential challenges of the program include people's resistance to paying a monthly premium, difficulties in claims processing, potential delays in the reimbursement of HCPs, potential patient misuse of the insurance program, and the absence of an electronic system and database. There are not an adequate number of priced and tested medications.
The health insurance program has several potential advantages, but at the same time it can face several technical challenges. The program should be well studied before implementing and it needs to be piloted at small scale before national implementation. The electronic system must be implemented by healthcare settings to facilitate transferring of the information/bills to the health authority. It is recommended to hire international team of experts to supervise the management this new system.
How to Cite
Publication Dates
References
Alwan AA. Health situation in Iraq: challenges and priorities for action. Baghdad: Ministry of Health, 2019.
Amendments WI. Official Gazette of Iraq Public Health Law. 2020;(89):0–55.
Al-Jumaili AA. Pharmacetuical Country Profile. 2020; (September) : 1–77.Available from: https:// moh. gov. iq /upload /upfile/ ar/1375.pdf
Al-Jumaili AA, Younus MM, Kannan YJA, Nooruldeen ZE, Al-Nuseirat A. Pharmaceutical regulations in Iraq: From medicine approval to postmarketing. East Mediterr Heal J. 2021;27(10):1007–15.
Population, total - Iraq | Data [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 10]. Available from: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=IQ
Central Statistical Organization -Iraq Population Estimates 2020 [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 11].Available from: https:// www.cosit. gov.iq/ar /pop-main / manpower
Marcinko DE. Dictionary of health insurance and managed care. Springer Publishing Company; 2006.
Iraq Health Coverage Law 2020. [cited 2022 Apr 2]; Available from: https://moj .gov.iq/ upload/pdf/4614.pdf.
Creswell JW, Clark VLP. Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Sage publications; 2017.
The Ministry of Health; Iraqi News Agency [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 12]. Available from: https://www.ina.iq/154390--3-.html
Sommers BD, Maylone B, Blendon RJ, John Orav E, Epstein AM. Three-year impacts of the affordable care act: Improved medical care and health among low-income adults. Health Aff. 2017;36(6):1119–28.
Annual Results 2021 | UNICEF Iraq [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 10]. Available from: https:// www. unicef. Org /Iraq /reports /annual -results-2021
WHO EMRO | Health system strengthening | Priority areas | Iraq site [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jul 13]. Available from: http:// www. emro.who.int/iraq/priority-areas/health-system-strengthening.html
for the Eastern Mediterranean WHORO. Strengthening health financing systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region towards universal health coverage: health financing atlas 2018. 2019. 114 p.
Sugiyatmi TA, Hadi U, Chalidyanto D, Hafidz F, Miftahussurur M. Does the implementation of national health insurance affect the workload of a doctor and have an impact on service quality? A systematic literature review. J Public Health Africa. 2019;10(S1):101–5.
Paudel B. Challenges for implementation of the health insurance program in Nepal: Implementer’s perspectives. OsloMet-Storbyuniversitetet; 2021.
Alawode GO, Adewole DA. Assessment of the design and implementation challenges of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria: a qualitative study among sub-national level actors, healthcare and insurance providers. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):1–12.
Fusheini A, Marnoch G, Gray AM. Implementation challenges of the National Health Insurance Scheme in selected districts in Ghana: evidence from the field. Int J Public Adm. 2017;40(5):416–26.
Hiba Laith 2022. Hiba Leith Fahmi, Ali Azeez Al-Jumaili. Understanding the Experience of Hospital Pharmacists with the Effectiveness, Safety, Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting and Interchangeability of Biopharmaceutical Medicines. Iraqi J Pharm Sci, 2022;31(1):72–86.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Iraqi Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences ( P-ISSN 1683 - 3597 E-ISSN 2521 - 3512)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
