This two-volume guide provides assitance for a process of monitoring and evaluating the microinsurance schemes. It provides managers a assisting tool during such process for their microinsurance schemes. It also allows stakeholders - both technical and financial - to evaluate the vialability and performance of such schemes.

Many countries that subscribe to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have committed to ensuring access to basic health services for their citizens. Health insurance has been considered and promoted as the major financing mechanism to improve access to health services, as well to provide financial risk protection.

Micro health insurance is an emerging concept to reduce poverty and social exclusion and improve health care access. The Handbook of Micro Health Insurance in Africa gives an overview of the challenges and needs in the field of micro health insurance. Focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa, where universal social health protection still has a way to go, the Handbook provides an introduction to the relatively new and promising approach of micro insurance as a risk management tool for low-income households, between the market, self-help, and the state. This book is an output of the project Pro MHI Africa, which is funded by the European Union and directed by the University of Cologne in cooperation with the University of Botswana, the University of Ghana, and the University of Malawi. (Series: Social Protection in Health. Challenges, Needs and Solutions in International Health Care Financing - Vol. 1)

Annotation This volume views community-based microinsurance as an incremental first step to improved financial protection and better access to health services for the poor. While community-based financing can be structured in various ways, this volume focuses on reinsurance as a mechanism for improving micro-level health insurance units. It outlines strategies and policies that can be applied by countries and donors to improve access to health care services.

Health is an important constituent of human resource development. Good health is real wealth of society. It not only increases human efficiency but also decreases private and public expenditure on sickness and diseases. Health has been declared as a fundamental human right. Healthcare services help to reduce infant mortality rate, check crude death rate, keep diseases under control and raise life expectancy.