Closing the Healthcare Gap Through Cooperatives

In April 2025, a new GESTE project was launched in Uganda contributing to the achievement of SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being. The need for action is great: only about 1% of the population has health insurance, and less than 30% have access to medical care. Health cooperatives aim to help close this care gap.

Since 2023, the DGRV team in Uganda has been supporting the establishment of such cooperatives in its project work together with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC). Currently, 35 are already registered. The GESTE project complements this work through three core components: First, the boards and committees of five cooperatives receive training in governance and insurance management. Second, awareness workshops are held to establish new cooperatives in two underserved districts. Third, income-generating activities are promoted, including training in soap making and the production of essential oil for malaria control – an innovative approach that combines health and economic stability.

The overarching goal is to strengthen local structures, improve access to healthcare services, and establish competence centers in the long term – fully in line with the 2030 Agenda. At the heart of this is the cooperative value of solidarity: communities take responsibility for one another and shape their healthcare actively and sustainably.