Gambia to roll out digitalised health insurance scheme
The Gambia has joined African countries digitalising their health care systems for improved services to their citizens.
The landmark decision, according to Gambian-based media GRTS news, aims at making healthcare more accessible and efficient for all Gambians through the digitalised National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The initiative is projected to cover the entire population and is an important step towards the country’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Gambian citizens are excited about the new move, with thousands of citizens visiting provided registration centers within the country to register. Other citizens however still remain skeptical about the feasibility of the initiative and are yet to register.
What this means
The Gambia’s NHIS system, according to GRTS news, will not only enhance services by reducing waiting times and bureaucracy, it will also reduce healthcare cost which is a big concern for most citizens.
A Registrar at the Birth & Deaths department of the Ministry of Health, Lamin Fatty said, “The systems all along had been manual process and then we have challenges along the line, this includes data coalition, archiving the data, retrieving the data from the database is also a problem, so if the people misplaced their certificates, we find it difficult to retrieve the certificates.”
How it works
The NHIS will capture and record the biometric details of citizens to facilitate access to healthcare services. Registered members on the scheme will also be able to make medical appointments and have access to their medical records remotely.
Government has ensured that cybersecurity measures are put in place to guarantee maximum security and confidentiality of the data and privacy of its registered members.
When it starts
Set up, and all other necessary mechanisms required for the optimum functionality and progress of the scheme which is yet to be launched, according to the Ministry of Health, have been put in place. The ministry is also tapping various means to support funding from the World Bank in order to fund the project.
How it began
According to GRTS news, steps towards the establishment of this scheme began in 2021 after the National Assembly passed the National Health Insurance Bill into law. President Adama Barrow endorsed this by confirming the NHIS as a crucial element in The Gambia’s healthcare landscape.
