Social Health Protection

Universal social health protection is born out of the aspiration that all people will obtain necessary quality health services while not suffering financially. Many countries around the world have implemented state-subsidized or social health insurance schemes as part of providing social health protection. Despite huge investments in expanding social health protection, many low- and middle-income countries still struggle to ensure that target populations receive quality health services.  

This research project contributes to a better understanding of the reasons behind the exclusion of the poor. We look at quality of health services, governance and institutions of health facilities, information asymmetries, and financial resources. This study also aims to test programs and policies intended to support an inclusive social health protection system. The field work is conducted in Ghana and Tanzania. We specifically address the following questions:

1. Identify who is currently excluded from financing protection mechanisms and the reasons for exclusion.
2. Investigate how vulnerable groups can be better identified and included in financing protection mechanisms.
3. Characterize how health systems governance can be improved to support inclusive social health protection.
4. Analyze the impact of financial protection mechanisms and policies to improve health systems governance. 
   

Researchers: Isabel Günther, Kenneth Harttgen, Kathrin Durizzo