The Joint Learning Network for UHC is growing! Help us extend a warm welcome to our newest member, the Republic of The Gambia!
Officially known as the Republic of The Gambia, it is a West African nation bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Senegal. It has a population of approximately 2.7 million (2024 estimate) concentrated along the banks of the Gambia River. While English is the official language, indigenous languages such as Mandinka, Wolof, and Fula are widely spoken.
The government is steadfastly committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and has made significant progress in service coverage over the past decades. Their vision, as outlined in the National Health Sector Policy (2021–2030), is to provide affordable, equitable, and quality healthcare to all Gambians without financial hardship. The Ministry of Health is actively rolling out the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which recently expanded its service network to 69 health facilities nationwide.
In its current development phase, the ministry is dedicated to strengthening its health system through strategic initiatives like the Primary Health Care (PHC) roadmap and improved interministerial coordination. Collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is crucial in defining a roadmap for UHC and addressing challenges like stakeholder buy-in and resource mobilization.
Furthermore, the government has expressed its commitment to providing the necessary leadership to significantly decrease maternal and child mortality, which has already seen reductions from 433 to 289 per 100,000 live births. The focus is on three (3) UHC priority areas:
- Expanding Access to Primary Healthcare: Revitalizing the PHC roadmap to strengthen community health services and referral systems.
- Health Financing: Building technical capacity in strategic purchasing and revenue generation from the informal sector.
- Workforce Development: Strengthening the health workforce through targeted training and capacity building to ensure quality care.
As The Gambia joins the JLN family, it aims to leverage JLN’s expertise for refining its health financing reforms, fostering partnerships for sustainable development, and sharing its practical experiences in NHIS design and PHC revitalization.
Immediate areas of learning include:
- Understanding Health Financing Models: Exploring mixed provider payment systems and financial risk protection strategies.
- Strengthening Service Delivery: Learning strategies to scale up population coverage and essential health packages.
- Policy and Governance: Gaining insights into navigating the political economy of UHC reforms and interministerial coordination.
Primary Point of Contact:
- Name: Dr. Hassan Njie
- Title: Director of Services, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)
- Organization: Ministry of Health
- Dr. Njie is a Health Economist and Health Financing specialist with extensive experience in health financing reform, including social health protection, strategic purchasing, and economic evaluation. He holds a PhD and is a lead technical expert in developing benefits packages and provider contracting.
