Figure 1: Conceptual framework
Our framework identifies individual and health facility-level factors that influence an NHIF member’s choice of an outpatient healthcare provider. Given the choice that NHIF members have to make for outpatient facilities, then it is postulated that the choice would create competition among providers to both be selected and retained by NHIF members. Consequently, provider competition drives health system service improvements especially the quality of care, efficiency and service use relative to need 15.