The Interaction Relationship Between The Diversification of Health Care Support Activities and The Health Care Services Outreach: Evidence from Microfinance Institutions in Vietnam

Abstract

Background: One of the main ways to strengthen the health-system capacity by the intersectoral approaches is to promote social health by linking microfinance with healthcare support activities. The aim of the study was to discover the interaction relationship between the diversification of health care support activities and the health care services outreach of formal microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Vietnam. This study proposes policy measures that could be implemented by the policy makers, managers of MFIs to diversify the health care support activities and to promote the health care services outreach.Methods: This study used the panel data regression method from 2010 to 2019 of all formal MFIs in Vietnam, the study found out the interaction relationship between the diversification of health care support activities and the health care services outreach of formal MFIs in Vietnam.Results: The results showed that number of branches and the health care services outreach had positive relationships with the diversification of health care support activities; productivity had a negative impact on the diversification of health care support activities. The diversification of health care support activities, and productivity had positive relationships with the health care services outreach; number of branches had a negative impact on the health care services outreach. At the same time, this study found bidirectional interactions and the causal relationship between the diversification of health care support activities and the health care services outreach of formal MFIs in Vietnam.Conclusions: This study found bidirectional interactions and the causal relationship between the diversification of health care support activities and the health care services outreach. The study results encourage and provide opportunities to diversify the health care support activities and to promote the health care services outreach of formal MFIs in Vietnam.