The Project period has been extended by six months to allow for more observation and product refinement, especially since the launch was delayed by one year. The end-line research study, completed in December 2011, is expected to be published by April 2012.
Work will continue to standardize and scale up the HHD. Four more villages (in addition to the two that are live as of end of 2011) are in the pipeline to join in early 2012. Further work will be done to synchronize data across health worker, clinic doctor and remote (hospital) doctor.
The CARE Foundation plans to add a description of value added services to client passbook. These include:
- Discounts for X-ray & Ultrasound
- Discounts for hospitalization at a pediatric hospital and a gynecology hospital in addition to CARE Hospital
- Specialist Consultations at 25% discount
- Free Electrocardiogram
- Free annual eye and dental check up
- Discount for anemia and blood glucose tests
- Discount on selected over the counter products
- Discounts for members enrolled under a chronic care program
The CARE Foundation will test ways to increase client value through product refinements or new services, such as:
- Addition of maternal care, with emphasis on screening for high risk pregnancy and routine monitoring and linkages to existing programs for pregnant women
- Eliminating extra charges for children over age 18
- No limits for usage (visits)
- Offer a 50% discount for lab, injections & IV fluids (value added service)
- Pilot a lower cost (Rs 200 instead of Rs 300) product which covers consultations but has a 50% co-payment for drugs, lab, injections & IV fluids (versus fully covering these services).
- Complementary inpatient insurance. RSBY (India’s national inpatient hospitalization scheme for the poor) has not yet been implemented in Yavatmal District. In January 2012, CARE Foundation will conclude a field study by an Indian insurer on the feasibility to introduce hospitalisation products which could complement the outpatient primary care product. Reports and discussions are in the pipeline and explore a possibility for implementation in the project area through the VHC network.
Distribution
CARE Foundation is investigating use of a volunteer, incentive based model to increase the penetration of the outpatient insurance product as well as to distribute other over the counter healthcare products in the same and neighboring villages
The clinical understanding of coordinators with will be upgraded by additional training.
Date of last Learning Journey update: April 2012
