Banking on Health (BoH) Project pilots “Strategies for Entering the Private Health Care Market” training course

In June 2006, the Banking on Health (BoH) Project, led by Abt Associates in association with its partners Banyan Global, ACDI/VOCA, Britan & Asociados, and IntraHealth International, piloted the “Strategies for Entering the Private Health Care Market” training course with three financial institutions in Uganda, led by Sophie Forbes (Banyan Global) and Elena Nelson (ACDI/VOCA). The aim of the course was to assist these institutions to enter the private health care market by lending funds to small-scale private health providers which offer priority public health services. Over a two-week period, four courses were offered to staff from Uganda Microfinance Limited, Post Bank, and FINCA/Uganda. Another objective of the trip was to train the staff of Enterprise Uganda, a local training firm, in the curriculum’s topics (training techniques, market segmentation, market research methods and the private health sector). These trainers will then be able to provide this course to other banks as needed by BoH.

Access to financing is a critical input that assists private health providers to grow and improve services. The Banking on Health Project was designed to work with local financial institutions and private health providers to improve access to finance. In Uganda, Banking on Health is working to improve access to financing for small-scale providers, including midwives, nurses, doctors and drug shops. Banking on Health will follow-up its June training in Uganda by hosting forums to link providers to financial and other business services.