IMIS aims to professionalise health insurance in South Kivu, providing it with an information system
Main beneficiary countries:Tanzania - Nepal - Cameroon - Congo - Kinshasa
Swiss Tropical and public health institute (Swiss TPH)
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute is a world leader in the field of healthcare, and is especially dedicated to low- and middle-income countries. It offers research, services, education and training to improve health and well-being through a better understanding of diseases and healthcare systems. From the laboratory to the clinic, through a cross-cutting approach encompassing innovation, validation and application, the Institute aims to provide new diagnoses, treatments and vaccines directly to individuals and communities. Each stage of the approach is marked by a spirit of mutual learning, in collaboration with partners in more than 100 countries. More than 800 employees and students work at Swiss TPH on infectious and non-communicable diseases, environmental and social health, as well as healthcare systems and interventions. Their expertise extends from the laboratory to the field, from theory to practice, from molecular to spatial, and from genes to healthcare systems. As a department of Swiss TPH, the goal of SCIH is to strengthen healthcare systems and improve access to health services in low- and middle-income countries, paying special attention to vulnerable groups.
Sector: Organizational: Communities, public authorities, NGOs, associations, foundations, etc.
Country of origin: Switzerland
Healthcare themes targeted
Stage of development:
Area where initiative is utilised
Initiative start date
Financing method
Economic model(s)
The initiative addresses issues related to the quality of data collection, the transparency of financial transactions and weakness in fraud control encountered by insurance systems that still operate with “paper-based procedures”.
Few benefits of IMIS:
The implementation of the IMIS pilot in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is part of Phase III of the Health System Support Programme, PASS South Kivu funded by the Swiss Cooperation (SDC). Swiss TPH and GIZ were commissioned to implement the project with similar roles, but in different areas. Towards the end of Phase III, it was decided to allocate part of the budget to strengthen community health insurance through a project to revitalise health insurance. Thus, the establishment of an information system has been identified as the priority to strengthen the development of health insurance in South Kivu, by:
In April 2017, a team of three consultants from Swiss TPH was commissioned to set up IMIS in six healthcare zones in South Kivu, with a limited pilot focusing on the configuration of systems, the test of affiliation registration and the encoding and validation of repayments. Implementation of the pilot began in April with eight insurance mutuals, with a first mission in June 2017 to set up the system and train the users. It will be finished by the end of December 2018. The PASS project is entering its final phase. For the moment, investment continuity for the implementation of IMIS remains uncertain while local partners are interested in continuing development and extending the pilot to insurance mutuals in their network. Thus, financial and technical assistance is needed to maintain continuity in the development of this project.
Financial access to care, microinsurance
16000 Number of beneficiaries since launch
Yes
Yes
No
No
Organizational: Communities, public authorities, NGOs, associations, foundations, etc.
Organizational: Communities, public authorities, NGOs, associations, foundations, etc.
Organizational: Communities, public authorities, NGOs, associations, foundations, etc.
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