Kitovu Patients’ Pre payment Scheme (KPPS) is a hospital-based model of health care provision operating in Masaka, Uganda. This paper briefly reviews the health care prepayment scheme of the hospital. At the same it also looks at the institutional structure of KPPS and its sustainability. Through a detail SWOT analysis the paper explores the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats associated with the scheme. Finally it suggests lessons that other MFIs and donors can learn from this experience.
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CIDR – Community Based Health Prepayment Programme, Uganda
This village-based program uses a mutual insurance model that has as its objective complete “ownership” of the activities by the members. CIDR-Uganda management defines “ownership” in this case as “a feeling of people that they manage and make all the decisions for the scheme. That they know the scheme is theirs.” CIDR-France has concluded that such “ownership” and the resulting autonomy are not likely to happen with this project within the next ten years. It thus no longer warrants (per CIDR policies) an expatriate manager after the first three-year phase. CIDR is now transferring project management to a newly created NGO (while retaining the same staff and members) called Save for Health Uganda, under local management and with some oversight by CIDR France.
Client-Focused Microfinance: A Review of Information Sources
This briefing note proposes to focus on clients’ needs rather than on institutions or products. It discusses various sources of information, which play an important role in assessing the needs of the clients such as local government & network, MIS and competition analysis, frontline staff, clients’ responses, and primary market research methods. Given the maturing of microfinance market, the note suggests the MFIs to become more sophisticated in their approaches to understanding the markets within which they operate
Microcare Ltd. Health Plan (Uganda)
This paper summarizes the interventions of Microcare, a not-for-profit organisation involved in the provision of heath care financing services in Uganda. Microcare offers a single comprehensive health care coverage package and provides third-party administrative services to other companies in addition to being involved in developing information systems for health insurers. The paper briefly outlines Microcare’s products, and its institutional structure, covering health scheme operations, accounting, marketing strategy, sustainability, management and governance and partnerships.
The paper also highlights the relationship between the partners, namely the health service providers and the MFIs, and Microcare. While discussing the likelihood of sustainability, this paper also addresses relevant operational issues, the organizational risk management strategy and clients’ level of satisfaction with the product. A summary of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to Microcares’ program is also provided.
Developing Staff Incentive Schemes
Examines what lessons can be learned from staff incentive schemes from Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa.
Product Costing – The Experience of MicroSave
This note focuses on understanding of processes and costs structures which in turn facilitates improvements in efficiency and allows more informed pricing decisions to be made. It discusses activity based costing (ABC) at length and its significance for the MFIs such as reducing costs, redefining/rejecting loss making products etc. It also draws lessons from costing experience of MicroSave. The note recommends having management commitment, trained staff, careful background work and necessary resources in order conduct a successful costing exercise.