In Uganda, healthcare is largely inaccessible to rural and low-income populations due to overreliance on out-of-pocket cash payments. Despite the emergence of health innovations and insurance schemes, most fail to sustain themselves because communities lack liquid cash and operate primarily in informal, non-monetary economies.
Vision
To create a sustainable, community rooted health financing model that recognizes and leverages local forms of value beyond cash to ensure last mile communities can access essential health services.
Key Insights
Out-of-pocket healthcare is not just unsustainable, it is exclusionary.
Communities often have non-cash assets or value (labor, crops, livestock, time, communal trust systems).
Insurance models fail because they're designed for cash economies, not value exchange ecosystems.
Donor funded programs collapse without community financial agency.
Early Concept: "Value4Health"
A decentralized health financing system that allows communities to contribute value (not just cash) into a collective health pool, enabling access to services when needed.
Our solution provides a framework for recognizing and mobilizing various forms of community value beyond just cash payments. This enables sustainable health financing even in cash-poor communities.
Core Components
CommunityHealth Vaults
A local health "fund" or cooperative that accepts diverse forms of value: crops, labor time, crafts, services, even airtime recorded digitally or manually.
Digital Ledger or App Integration
To track contributions and create an internal "credit" score or exchange value (using basic mobile tech or community agents).
Health Credit Exchange
A platform or framework where contributions can be redeemed for health services at partnered facilities.
Partnerships with Local Health Facilities
So that these facilities accept health credits and are reimbursed via cooperative bulk purchases, subsidies, or rotating community funds.
Capacity Building for Value Literacy
Educating communities on how their local resources can be redefined as value for health not just for trade.
Community-Driven Success
Our approach empowers local communities to take ownership of their healthcare journey.
Together, we can transform healthcare access for all communities