Perceived obstacles to the implementation of the National Health Insurance in Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to determine the challenges to the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) in South Africa (SA). The main problem is to evaluate the views of management staff at CHBAH on the barriers to the implementation of the NHI system at CHBAH. Data was collected through semi structured interviews of 14 participants. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and a thematic content analysis was done. The themes found were discussed with 2 Masters of Business Administration colleagues to ensure reliability. The main barriers to the implementation of the NHI at CHBAH is a lack of leadership and management skills, poor culture, a lack of communication and understanding, deteriorating infrastructure and poor technology, inadequate budgets to support the size of the hospital, organizational structure between central office and CHBAH as well as the structure at CHBAH itself and lastly staff shortages.