On October 5th, 2005, the Banking on Health Project discussed "Strengthening Contracting Out in the Private Sector to Support Family Planning and Reproductive Health Outcomes in Nicaragua". During this session we shared the design and preliminary findings from our first year of work in Nicaragua.

Banking on Health is a project under USAID’s Private Sector Program that seeks to increase access to financing for private health care businesses in support of family planning and reproductive health outcomes. In Nicaragua, the Banking on Health Project is supporting the National Social Security Institute’s (INSS) efforts to contract out a basic package of primary health care services in the private sector. Contracting out is an important mechanism that can increase access to high quality reproductive health and other services. The Banking on Health Project is supporting this effort with a four pronged package of technical assistance:

• Training to two banks with a health sector DCA in understanding the health care market in Nicaragua and health sector lending.
• Training to private providers contracting with the INSS in financial management, identifying bankable projects and accessing financing.
• Training to private providers in understanding the financial benefits of promoting RH/FP within the capitated system.
• Working with the social security institute to support the provision of FP/RH within the capitated system and improve their ability to evaluate and certify commercial providers.