Senegal Advances Universal Health Coverage with Digital Payments

Senegal has made notable progress toward universal health coverage, increasing the proportion of the population covered from 10 % a decade ago to over 53 % today. The government aims to reach 75 % coverage by 2029, ensuring equitable access to healthcare across the country. This advancement is largely driven by a digital transformation led by the National Agency for Universal Health Coverage (SEN‑CSU), which has modernized its central management system and introduced a suite of digital tools.

Key innovations include the SEN‑CSU mobile app, a national platform for managing universal health coverage, and various other solutions that simplify enrollment, premium payments, and the administration of beneficiaries. Citizens can now register remotely, renew benefits, pay premiums via mobile money, and monitor their coverage status in real time. The system also allows the diaspora to sponsor insured persons from abroad, further expanding access.

Since 2024, the Better Than Cash Alliance, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has supported Senegal in replacing cash payments with safer digital transactions. This shift has created a model built on trust and efficiency, featuring a health‑insurance card with a QR code that grants access to care without financial or administrative barriers. Technical partners emphasize that the structured approach—combining digital identity, digital payments, and robust data governance—strengthens results and enables an increasing number of citizens, including those in rural areas, to benefit from health insurance.

A case study presented at the African Health Tech Summit highlighted how these tools improve transparency, data protection, and service quality, offering a model that other countries can adapt. The digital transformation is having a tangible impact on families’ lives; one insured woman reported that she can now pay premiums directly and receive care anywhere in Senegal.

Senegal’s progress toward a fairer, more modern, and accessible universal health coverage system is significant. Continued efforts to strengthen inclusion and service quality for all citizens position the country’s experience as a model for other nations seeking to leverage digital payments and technology to achieve universal health coverage.