Facilitators and barriers to participation of the private sector health facilities in health insurance & government-led schemes in India

Background: In India, policymakers are in an opined that expansion of public-funded health insurance is the key to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Despite untapped potential to be part of such government-run public-funded health scheme, many private service providers are reluctant to join in such scheme due to various reasons. This paper aims to evaluate facilitators, barriers and perception to participation of the private sector health facilities in Health Insurance &amp; government-led schemes. Methods: Present study was conducted in 83 private hospitals of Vadodara city. Sampling frame was formed &amp; with the use of random number table, 83 hospitals were selected randomly. Data collection was done in pre tested, pre formed questionnaire &amp; respondents were the medical superintendent or the person in-charge of the hospital. Results: In the present study 30% &amp; 26% of hospitals were enrolled for cashless private health insurance facility &amp; government health schemes respectively. Social service, competition and increase clientele were the common reason sought for enrolment in government health schemes. Low &amp; delayed reimbursement, bribe to clear payment, limited services covered, administrative issues were the common problems identified for non-enrolment. There was an association between a number of beds in the hospital &amp; enrolment to government health scheme (p < 0.05). Availability of cashless private health insurance facility (p < 0.01) and satisfied with the current TPA model of health insurance (p < 0.05) were also found statistically significant. Conclusion: Timely &amp; rational increase in remuneration, expanding the scope of services and use of appropriate technology for ease in administration is the need of an hour to engage vast service providers under the ambit of public-funded health insurance

Tobacco Consumption Pattern of Selected Districts of Gujarat

Background: Globally, among the leading preventable causes of premature deaths tobacco stands on the top. The consumption patterns of tobacco in various forms of chewing and smoking vary across different regions and socioeconomic levels. Objectives: To study tobacco consumption pattern in two districts of Gujarat and compare among them. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out on 504 participants during January 2015 to September 2016 among 15-64 years age group. A pre designed and pre tested Questionnaire was used to collect data on tobacco consumption pattern. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were used for the data analysis. Results: Smoking was reported among 11.51% and 18.25% in Gandhinagar and Mehsana district respectively. Out of which around 90% of them in both district were smoking daily. 34.52% of the studied population in Mehsana district was using smokeless tobacco as compared to Gandhinagar district (26.19%). Initiation of smoking was in later age as compared to smokeless tobacco. Conclusion: Present study concludes that large number of people including younger population was using smokeless tobacco in both districts. Early initiation of use of smokeless tobacco suggests an urgent need for action