#National News

NHIA commits to expand services to hard-to-reach communities

Jan 23, 2026, 1:16 PM | Article By: Alkali Cham

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), mandated by the NHIA Act 2021 to implement a National Health Insurance Scheme has revealed plans to strengthen its services across all the regions of the country.

Speaking to this reporter, Fatim Kah Communications Officer for the scheme, revealed that the 2026 priorities guided by the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer focuses on expanding services under the scheme to ensure essential healthcare is available in all regions including the hard to reach areas in the rural communities.

Other set of priorities, he added, include securing sustainable funding which requires collaboration with the Government and partners to strengthen financing for long-term scheme sustainability. 

“Passing and implementing the amended National Health Insurance Act, which will allow mandatory contributions and strengthen the scheme’s legal and financial foundation″ she added.

The scheme, she added, is committed to improving access by removing administrative barriers such as the link between NHIS registration and birth certificate issuance in the drive to make the scheme more accessible to all eligible persons.

Kah maintained that these priorities reflect NHIA’s renewed commitment to making health care equitable, reliable and accessible to all Gambians.

Reflecting on the achievements registered in 2025 by the Scheme, Kah stated that the scheme expanded the network of contracted facilities from 13 to 70 across all the regions of the country which increased access to health care services for communities.

She added the NHIA held traffic negotiations with health facilities ensuring better coordination, efficiency and access to care for beneficiaries.