The Right Incentives Matter

While we all realise the value of storing health records and preventive care, the right incentives go a long way in getting us to take steps that are we tend to avoid due to sheer lethargy. In an interesting example, a project facilitated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is offering 500 sex workers in Mysore chip-embedded smart cards, which when presented during transactions help them get discounts at select shops and hotels and earn them loyalty points that can be redeemed for discounts on later purchases. The shopping basket can include provisions, food at restaurants and clothes.

But the card serves another purpose. It has the medical record of the sex worker, who has to compulsorily get his or her health check up at a clinic once in three months. The card becomes inactive if the holder fails to do this. The sex workers will be checked for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and treatment provided if necessary.

KHPT officials said that the smart card initiative came from discussion with the sex workers, who identified an incentive of discounts with a health card to be a better alternative than a pure health card. Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT) reaches about 1400 female and around 200 male sex workers active in Mysore city and most of them conduct their business during the day. They earn anywhere between Rs200 and Rs1,500 a day. “It is not uncommon for us to buy as many as three new saris a month. Looking attractive is essential in our trade,” Pushpa, a sex worker, said.