Abstract

The scarcity of resources for health care activities is a global reality. In many developing countries, the situation is compounded by inefficient and inequitable health financing of the public health sector. Rationalization of the financing mechanisms in this sector is, therefore, imperative. This has led to the critical analysis of the spectrum of policy options including user charges and health insurance. This project will examine one form of health insurance : community-based health insurance schemes. Researchers will ascertain the effectiveness and feasibility of community health insurance schemes in two sub-Saharan African countries : Guinea-Bissau and Burundi, and investigate the feasibility of similar schemes in a rural district in Ghana and, in the process, develop an instrument to aid policy formulation and planning in the area of community health insurance at the district level. The project will provide new insight into the feasibility of community health insurance in developing countries, that is to say of the effectiveness, affordability, and sustainability of such schemes.

Recipient Institution(s)