Summary

Created to meet the demand for affordable primary healthcare, the KNCU Health Plan was developed and sponsored by the PharmAccess Foundation, in partnership with KNCU, MicroEnsure and the Mission for Essential Medical Supplies to serve those living in the Kilimanjaro area of Northern Tanzania.

Program goals

The Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union (KNCU) is a union of coffee growers comprising 67 cooperatives with around 1,000 families per group. The KNCU Health Plan aims improve the health situation of the farmers and their families, for whom good health is essential for their economic productivity.

Key program components

The KNCU Health Plan offers affordable health care to the members of KNCU and their dependents. The KNCU members in each Primary Society will vote on whether they want to adopt the KNCU Health Plan. If a Primary Society votes in favour of the KNCU Health Plan, all members in that Primary Society and their dependents living in the same house must be enrolled. Penetration rates are typically between 35% and 55% per community.

The KNCU Health Plan covers a primary healthcare, limited secondary care for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, rheumatism, maternity care such as delivery and caesarean section, and neonatal care for first 30 days after birth. The premium for the KNCU Health Plan is 40,500 Tanzanian shillings (about US$ 25) per person per year (medical and administration), however the product is subsidized. Each member pays 12,000 TSh per year (US $7.50).

KNCU pays the membership contribution upfront and is then reimbursed by the Primary Societies who collect the individual contributions from members. Individual's membership contribution can be deducted from coffee sales or paid in cash to the Primary Society secretaries.

Since its launch in April 2011, the KNCU Health Plan is now serving in excess of 7,000 people with affordable primary healthcare, and now adding over 1,600 new members per month with a new distribution program.