Recommendations Based on the framework presented in in Figure 3, the factors which may influence the success or failure of the financing schemes identified in the subject project communities and cooperative groups may depend on a number of elements. The initial factors identified are, to wit: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
the presence of external groups/support (i.e. NGOs/GOs) the presence of community structures or patterns of community organization; practices or beliefs inherent to the community; the level of awareness as well as readiness of the community to get involved; the establishment of income-generating projects and other means of supporting the scheme; the enforcement of policies (whether internal or external to the community) regarding the use of accumulated resources; and linkages, partnerships and collaboration (intra and inter community); resource generation and mobilization; and geographic location.
As indicated, some conditions inherent in the communities may contribute towards the success of a community-based health financing scheme, for example, the adherence to certain traditional beliefs and practices such as following authority structures and placing high value on local self sufficiency. In addition, the presence of community structures and organizations which will reinforce the system established to operationalize the scheme may contribute significantly to its success. Other conditions such as the level and certainty of income and other economic means may also be crucial concerns if communities were to depend highly on their own resources to support the schemes. Some communalities on the causes of the success of some schemes may be observed. On the other hand, the diversity of the communities and cooperative groups which operationalized the community health financing schemes provided a rich ground for individuality and uniqueness to prosper. It is not enough, however, to stop at determining the distinctive characteristics of each scheme. Given the schemes and the issues and and concerns related to them, the next vital step is to generate alternative measures to improve or to complement the present schemes. One of these complementary measures is the improvement of their financial resource base.
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