About Initiative

One big barrier to accessing care during pregnancy and childbirth is cost. Most Kenyans pay out of pocket for their health care because they have no insurance. A new system seeks to address this issue while also ensuring that the care women receive is high quality. Called MomCare, it is a digital platform where costs can be covered in full or in part by a third party payer, including universal healthcare coverage schemes. Payments are linked to service delivery; interactions are transparent and predictable. And the system holds providers accountable by rewarding those who deliver quality services, whether at a public or private facility. With MomCare, payments for maternity care services (ANC visits, labor, delivery and postpartum care) happen automatically — triggered when appointments are confirmed and services rendered — and also tracked by the system. Patients can initiate contact with providers and receive alerts using their mobile phones. Communication is by simple text message, no smartphone required.