http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/gertler/working_papers/Financial%20Institutions%20sept.%202001%204.pdf

Families in developing countries face enormous financial risks from major illness both in terms of the cost of medical care and the loss in income associated with reduced labor supply and productivity. The paper concludes that governments should promote microfinance and micro savings programs in addition to traditional tools such as subsidies, mandates, or direct government provision of health insurance and disability insurance. Document in PDF format, required Acrobat Reader.