Factors Influencing Civil Servants' Perceptions of National Health Insurance Schemes: A Case Study of the Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO), Tanzania

In today’s world of modern and ever-changing competitive business environment, workers’ health is central to every organization. This study aimed to assess factors affecting civil servants perception towards national health insurance at Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organization (TIRDO) in Tanzania with a sample of 50 respondents from five departments with a total population of 200 people. The study was guided by gap model of service quality as its theoretical framework. A descriptive design was employed using quantitative data collection methods including questionnaires. The study used simple random sampling and purposive sampling to select participants to give answers and explanations concerning the study. Data was analyzed quantitatively using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The responses from both questionnaires was assessed and the tool evaluated for reliability and consistency of responses/answers, the number of participants lost in understanding the meaning of the questions was informed the quality of the testing tool. The findings revealed that factors such as waiting time before offered service, hospital visiting frequency, modality of admission, clients’ attitude towards the service providers, tangibility, reliability and responsiveness highly affected the perception of respondents towards health insurance schemes. It was recommended that civil servants should have an option to choose a health insurance scheme of their choice. There is also a need to establish permanent functional structures of insurance to constantly engage the scheme management, health care providers and subscribers in order to minimize the mistrust and improve uptake of service delivery. The study concluded that factors affecting perception of NHIF users should be worked upon to create good working environment for employees and their wellbeing in general as when they are healthy, then they become productive as they do not have to worry of health circumstances.