African health insurance

New research being conducted at the University of Cologne will analyse the ways in which proper insurance policies can have an impact on the health of low-income people. The research will follow similar studies that investigated how savings and small amounts of credit can improve life for low earners.

The study, which will investigate whether health insurance policies can avert the risk of illness. The study will be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, where nine out of every ten people have no access to health insurance . Over 40 per cent of people live under the poverty line, and in order to afford medical treatment they must sell resources, dissolve savings or take out loans .

To beat this vicious cycle, the Department of Co-operative Studies is working on concepts of micro health insurance . The plan is to create a micro insurance diploma that allows students to become policy makers. A Professor involved in the study, Hans Rosner, reportedly commented: Micro health insurance is an important tool against poverty in developing countries. It constitutes specific self-help potentials of the target groups and can therefore correct the deficiencies of the health sector.