Moral Hazard on Free Health Care Services:A Study from Consumer's Side

Abstract

Introduction: Free Health Service is a priority program and a boon to all citizens mostly for the poor and marginalized groups. It is a timely and exemplary program of government but people are misutilizing the services as freely provided.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was done to assess moral hazard on free health care services by consumers. An interview schedule was used to collect quantitative data and in-depth interview with health workers for qualitative data in selected eleven health facilities.

Results: The study showed the prevalence of moral hazards of free health care services by the consumers. Around one third (33%) of respondent had self-demanded for the medicines. Two-third (65%) respondents had medicines at home. Two-third (67.6%) doesn't seek for health services during health problems. One-fourth (23.6%) had poster at home for other purpose rather than information and education. Peoples are misutilizing the services as, government bear the burden of cost. People have deviation in the normal behavior due to no registration fees and freely availability of drugs. 33% respondents self-demand for the medicines as a notion that there is a pill for every ill as a result, they self-demand for the medicines and mostly (52.2%) don’t consume full dose which can develop drug resistance.

Conclusion: The presence of moral hazard in the health facilities of Kaski district is a matter of concern. Visit to health facilities to collect medicines at home have increase unnecessary burden to health facilities and also increase in morbidity status. The result can inform developing proper policy and safety measures to drop off moral hazard on free health care services.