“Factors Influencing Healthcare Providers’ Satisfaction with the Social Health Insurance Program”

Abstract

Purpose:

SHI has emerged as key health financing mechanisms to promote UHC and thus lower financial barriers to accessing health services. SHI programs with public and private healthcare providers in Pakistan have contributed to increased access to health care, but there is not much evidence of how healthcare providers are satisfied with the implementation of the programs. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants affecting healthcare providers' satisfaction with the Social Health Insurance (SHI) program in Pakistan.

Methodology:

A quantitative cross sectional research design was used and the respondents included 220 healthcare providers from the accredited hospitals (both public and private) in Lahore, Punjab. A structured questionnaire with a five-point likert scale was used to collect data. Stratified random sampling was used and data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27. Reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were carried out.

Results:

Strong positive correlation with provider satisfaction and reimbursement efficiency, administrative support, communication effectiveness, empanelment transparency and institutional readiness emerged from the results. Reimbursement efficiency, administrative support and institutional readiness were the most important predictors of provider satisfaction as identified by regression analysis.

Implications:

The study recommends that all these factors should be strengthened to boost the satisfaction of healthcare providers and to ensure the sustainable implementation of SHI in Pakistan, namely, increased reimbursement mechanisms, administrative coordination, communication systems, and transparent empanelment procedures.