Senegal has been allocated almost $50 million by the World Bank to digitise its healthcare system. The funding is intended to support the National Health System Digitisation Programme (PDSS) and will be used to build, equip and connect the country's hospitals.

Dr Ibrahima Khaliloulah Dia, coordinator of the Health and Social Map Unit, stressed the importance of digital health for patients, with the possibility of storing their medical data securely online and facilitating the coordination of care. This project is part of the wider Senegal Digital Economy Acceleration Project (PAENS), financed to the tune of $150 million by the World Bank.

Since 2017, Senegal has been engaged in a process of digitising its healthcare system, and the draft orientation law on digital health was recently finalised. The country plans to digitise 1,500 health posts, 110 health centres and 40 hospitals, but current funding will only cover part of this vast project. In the start-up phase, 20 health centres will be involved, and around 1.5 million patients, 50% of them women, will benefit from the shared patient record (DPP).

The digitisation of the health system aims to improve data management, care coordination and access to health services, thereby helping to strengthen Senegal's health sector.

This funding from the World Bank is a major opportunity for Senegal to modernise its healthcare system using digital technologies. This is a crucial step towards transforming the health sector, enabling better management of medical data, improved coordination between health establishments and greater accessibility to health services. The digitisation of the healthcare system will promote more efficient patient care and help to strengthen the capacity of the country's healthcare sector.

Source : AITN