Zahid Noman, Gulrukh Mehboob, Shakeela Zaman, Iffat Rubab.
Quality and utilization of the health facilities by insured population at Social Security Hospital, Islamabad.
Pak J Public Health Jan ;2(2):19-24.

Background: Given the scarcity of an efficient health insurance system and its optimal use in Pakistan, this study provides a brief overview of services offered by Social Security hospital and dispensaries in the province of Punjab. The study aimed at analyzing the pattern of services being provided by social security health insurance system at Islamabad and the reasons for availing the secondary level health facilities by insured population from Social Security Hospital Islamabad without availing primary level facilities i.e. Dispensaries. Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was done by using simple random sampling technique of the insured workers reporting to hospital at least for last six month. Data collection was done through structured questionnaire after taking verbal consent from patients. Results: Of the total 290 respondents, 56.6% utilized social security facilities due to entitlement, 31% due to convenience, 4.1 % due to availability of female doctors, 3.1 % utilized them given the perceived good quality of care, 2.1% due to good paramedical staff, 1.7% because of their trust in the doctors, and 0.7% utilized the services given its easy accessibility for women. The results reveal that majority of the patients (82.6%) report at secondary level instead of utilizing the dispensaries. Reasons for underutilization of the primary level are lack of specialist doctors, diagnostic facilities and poor quality of medicines at dispensaries. Conclusions: The study concluded that the scope of Social Security Institution should be broadened with enhancement of better facilitation at primary level so that the burden on the secondary level health care facilities is reduced. Furthermore, it also reveals that if efficient services are offered to public through insurance or community financing they will utilize these services up to the optimum level, which in turn will improve the health status of the nation.

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