L'Union Technique de la Mutualité Malienne, Mali

This case study discusses the growth of 'Mutual Health Organizations' (MHO) in urban and rural West Africa that provide health insurance to thousands of people. The study argues that for MHOs to grow in terms of outreach and impact, the existence of an apex organization capable of providing services to individual MHOs is crucial.

The study examines the case of the apex organization 'Union Technique de la Mutualité (UTM) that has played a central role in the growth of the MHO movement in Mali, Africa.

The study finds that:

• MHOs are market-led and have the potential to become subsidy free and extend coverage to a large portion of a country's population;
• MHOs need to attract customers by offering competitive health insurance packages, while facing open market prices for the provision of health services;
• The most important challenge facing the movement is to reach sustainability;
• Individual MHOs respond positively to initiatives to create technical apex structures that are governed in a bottom-up fashion;
• MHO alliances can solve many problems that microinsurance institutions (MFIs) face by:
  • Limiting adverse selection,
  • Allowing for economies of scale,
  • Limiting covariant risk,
  • Standardizing management, accounting and risk management practices.

The study concludes by describing UTM's new product lines that include:

• Health insurance adapted to the needs of specific communities;
• A standardized trademark product of health insurance.