ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS SOCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, NASARAWA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Program (TISHIP)is one of the programs contained in the package of the Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Program (FSSHIP) of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which objective was to take care of the health needs of students of tertiary institutions. This research entitled “Assessment of the Implementation of Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Program ” was intended to evaluate the success registered in its implementation. Both ■ students and staff were used to raise a population of 3781 for the study, out of which 756 and 53 raised with the use of systematic random sampling were used, as sample from the students and staff respectively. Questionnaire was used as the instrument of data, collection, and data collected were analyzed using statistical mean and standard deviation. Additionally, pie charts were used to determine the percentage for each response group from the study sample. Decisions were based on rating scale which uses real limit of numbers. The study revealed some surmountable challenges encountered in the process of implementation such as delayed or no refund of out-of-pocket expenses, non issuance of identity cards to enrollees, inadequate facilities and equipment, etc. The findings showed that the program has recorded high extent ’ in affording students of the Institution access to good health services, taken the standard of health care delivery to 1moderate level Based on the findings, the study drew the conclusion that though TISHIP is grappling with some challenges in the course of implementation, it is a worthwhile program that deserves to be sustained. In the light of the revealed challenges, some recommendations were made that: more medical personnel should be recruited; there should be prompt refund of out-of-pocket expenses, the waiting time^between enrollment and issuance of identity cards to enrollees should be reduced to the barest minimum.