Belgium is supporting social health protection in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Senegal, by establishing insurance systems that aim to improve healthcare access for informal sector workers even in challenging low-income settings.
Belgium, through its development agency Enabel, has significantly contributed to expanding social health protection for the informal sector in low-income countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The OECD’s recent case study, “Social health protection for the poor: Belgium’s support in sub-Saharan Africa,” sheds light on how Belgium’s efforts have helped establish nationwide social health protection systems in countries like Senegal, Niger, and Mauritania.
In Senegal, Belgium’s collaboration with the government led to the creation of departmental health insurance units, targeting the rural poor, people working in the informal economy, and the indigent population. These initiatives, launched in 2013, covered over 400,000 beneficiaries and achieved impressive results, with health insurance coverage rates soaring from 4% to 80% by 2022. The social health protection system has proven effective, covering 85-95% of healthcare costs and improving access to quality health services by an average of 60%, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case study emphasizes that the success of these programs hinges on strong government commitment, a clear and shared vision with development partners, and a robust institutional framework. Belgium’s experience in Senegal demonstrates that with the right support and collaboration, social health protection is feasible even in low-income countries, offering valuable lessons for future initiatives in similar contexts.
