Health Ministry signs agreement with health facilities, directorates

It would be recalled that in 2021, the National Health Insurance Act was enacted, which established the National Health Insurance Authority to implement the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in The Gambia.

The NHIS is aimed at providing quality and needed health services to the population without exposing users to financial hardship at the point of accessing health services.

The move is in line with the Ministry’s quest to make progress towards Universal Health Coverage, which the NHIS is poised to achieve.

At the event, Dr Omar Jah Jr, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, recalled that since the enactment of the Act to date, the Ministry and the National Health Insurance Authority have initiated different activities to realise the objectives of the scheme.

PS Jah Jr. acknowledged that the NHIS was successfully piloted in Bundung Maternal and Child Hospital in July 2023, saying lessons learned including opportunities and challenges would help the Minitry and the NHIA during the phase roll-out of the NHIS.

He assured health facilities of his Ministry’s full support to ensure that the NHIS is successfully implemented in The Gambia.

PS Jah, while thanking the Minister of Health and the senior management team of the MOH for their leadership and commitment to the NHIS, equally commended the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs for their continuous support as well as the World Bank for their financial and technical support.

Bai Mass Saine, Chief Executive Officer for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), said the experience and lessons learned at Bundung Maternal and Child Hospital has encouraged them to add 12 more facilities to the NHIS phase roll-out.

Abdoulie Mam Njie, project coordinator for the Project Coordinating Unit (PCU), said the initiative aims to ensure challenges in the health sector are addressed, while ensuring efficiency and affordable supplies utilisation and for the purpose they are meant for.