By Kemo Kanyi
The World Bank-Gambia Office has donated 23 motorbikes, 23 laptops, and three printers to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to support its operations.
The Director of Services at the NHIA, Mr. Hassan Njie, recalled that in September of 2021, lawmakers enacted the National Health Insurance Act, which set the stage for the establishment of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) mandated by law to implement the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
According to him, the National Health Insurance Scheme is meant to ensure that Gambians and non-Gambians have access to quality and needed health services without facing financial hardships.
“The NHIS aligns with the National Health Policy of 2021-2030, the National Health Sector Strategic Plan of 2021-2025, and the recently validated Green Recovery Focus Plan of 2023-2027,” Mr Njie explained.
He emphasized that, as part of the authority’s plan to implement the National Health Insurance Scheme, the NHIA recruited regional verification officers to be deployed to various regions to verify claims that will be submitted by the contracted health facilities through the National Health Insurance Scheme using the electronic claims system.
He emphasized that an effective workforce is needed to enhanceNHIA’s operational efficiency, adding that it’s fitting that the Authority is provided with appropriate working tools.
Mr. Njie assured the donor that the tools would be properlyutilized and expressed gratitude to the leadership of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Ministry of Health, and the World Bank for their continuous and relentless support to the health ministry
