Achieving universal health coverage is still a long way to go. Worldwide 400 million people lack access to one or more essential health services (WHO 2015). Poverty is the main reason for this poor health coverage. The government alone cannot solve all these problems due to lack of fund in social welfare programs. The wide spread emergence of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing countries can play a significant role in this regard. A part from loan delivery, providing social services, especially health related services to this poor people should also be the ultimate mission of these MFIs. They can operate the following health-related programs: health- related education (including nutrition and sanitation), health care financing such as health loans, training community health workers, direct delivery of clinical services and health insurance. The main questions will be addressed in this project are: 1. Can microcredit play any role in increasing health seeking behavior? How? 2.What role microfinance can play in enhancing health knowledge of the poor? 3.How can health services be delivered to the poor with microcredit? Are these services effective to improve health status of the poor especially women and children?. This project can be conducted by using primary or secondary data from other developing countries.

Students interested in pursuing a PhD (or Masters) in any of the above topics or related topics are encouraged to contact Associate Professor Rasheda Khanam (rasheda.khanam@usq.edu.au) for further details.
The potential students are expected to have:
(1) an academic background in any of these fields: economics, health economics, development economics, econometrics, statistics and public health, AND,
(2) research publications in relevant fields

Professor Rasheda Khanam

• Australian Centre for Sustainable Business and Development
• Centre for Health Sciences Research
• Institute for Resilient Regions
• School of Business

• Agricultural Biotechnology

• Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD)
• Master of Research (MRES)