Public health insurance and birth outcomes

Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan

Bibliographic Data

ID11491853
AuthorsNajam uz Zehra Gardezi (Oregon State University, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume36
Issue1
Pages1-13
Publication date2021-03-03
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Policy and Planning (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0268-1080 • E-ISSN: 1460-2237
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/heapol/czaa115
PMID33263765
OpenAlexW3106967268
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited41

Public health insurance targeted towards low-income households has gained traction in many developing countries. However, there is limited evidence as to the effectiveness of these programs in countries where institutional constraints may limit participation by the eligible population. This paper evaluates a recent health insurance initiative introduced in Pakistan and discusses whether eligibility for the programme improves maternal health seeking behaviour. The Prime Minister National Health Program provides free insurance coverage to low-income families. The programme is in the early phases of implementation and has, since 2016, only been rolled out in a few eligible districts within the country. This allows for a comparison of eligible households in districts where the programme has been introduced to those that are eligible to receive insurance at a future date. Using repeated cross-sectional data from multiple rounds of representative household survey, a difference-in-difference model has been estimated. Results show that at least for a specific beneficiary group (i.e. pregnant women), there has been a positive increase in utilization of hospital services. Furthermore, we provide evidence using mother fixed effects that the programme increased the likelihood of a child’s birth being documented. Since possession of a birth certificate can secure civic rights for a child, this is an unintended but positive outcome of the programme

Beneficiary · Birth certificate · Business · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Family planning · Population · Public health · Unintended pregnancy · Finance · Global Health Care Issues · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Nursing

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