By: Kemo Kanyi
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has committed medical supply support to 13 health facilities across the nation.
The signing ceremony took place at the Senegambia Beach Hotel on Monday.
The beneficiary health facilities included Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), KanifingGeneral Hospital, Bundung Maternal and Child Hospital, Brikama District Hospital, Bwiam General Hospital, Essau District Hospital, Kuntaya Major Health Centre, Farafenni General Hospital, Soma District Hospital, Bansang General Hospital, BasseDistrict Hospital, Brikama-Ba Minor Health Centre, and Baja-Kunda Major Health Centre.
The NHIA further extended support to various Region Health Directorates in the Upper River Region, Central River Region, Lower River Region, West Coast Region 1 and 2, and North Bank Region East and West health directorates.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of NHIA said his agency’s sense of direction is playing a crucial role in their quest for achievement.
“The lessons learned in Bundungmaternal and child hospital will be migrated to all other health facilities that are benefiting from the drugs and other medical equipment support by the National Health Insurance Authority through the health insurance scheme. We are emboldened by the belief that we can do it, slowly but surely. Our biggest guiding principle is direction,” he underscored.
Abdoulie Mam Sait Njie, representative of the Project Coordinating Unit (CPU) and the World Bank, added that he had confidence from the performance of the pilot project in Bundung maternal and child hospital that is going to work well in various health facilities. He advised for judicious use of the supplies.
He explained the project piloted at Bundung Maternal and Child Hospitalwas very informative.
“I believe that has prepared us to go ahead with the concept of the National Health Insurance Authority, which is to help ensure that some of the challenges we face in the health sector are addressed in terms of drugs and other medical supplies. These medical supplies were and still are beingsubsidized by the government. The challenge to address these shortfalls is on both NHIA and the implementers, but more sure, on the implementers, who must ensure that there is efficiency and to use supplies for its rightful purposes,” he said.
Dr. Omar Jah, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, outlined the reasons for the establishment of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to facilitate the realization of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“In 2021, the National Health Insurance Act was enacted into law. The NHIA Act 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. This is in line with the Ministry of Health’s quest to make progress towards Universal Health Coverage, which the NHIS is poised to achieve,” he stated
He added: “Since the enaction to date, the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority have initiated different activities to realize the objectives of the scheme. Through the support of the Ministry of Health, the NHIA Board was constituted, and a CEO was appointed. This was followed by recruitment of relevant staff to make the Authority operational.”
He recognised the support of partners in the execution of the project
“The Ministry of Health and the NHIA have developed a National Health Insurance Scheme Benefits Package, which are services and interventions the population are expected to receive when they visit health facilities. An international consultant was recruited with the support of the World Bank to cost the benefits package. Furthermore, I am also happy to report that the NHIS was successfully piloted in Bundung Maternal and Child Hospital in July 2023. The lessons learned, including opportunities and challenges, will help the MOH and the NHIA during the phased roll-out of the NHIS,” he recommended.
The PS commended the Ministry of Health for their leadership and commitment to the NHIS, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs for their continuous support, the World Bank for their financial and technical support, the CEO and staff of NHIA for their commitment and hard work, members of the health facility management, including Board members and chairpersons of the health center management committees and staff of the MOH.
