• Mauritania launches e-health initiatives, including a national vaccination database and the E-CNAM platform for digital insurance and reimbursement.

• The government targets improved data management, planning, and healthcare delivery amid chronic staff shortages and high maternal and infant mortality rates.

• International partners, including the EU and ENABEL, support digitalization projects, aiming to expand coverage, reduce costs, and enable telemedicine.

Mauritanian authorities accelerate the digitization of the national health system. Health Minister Mohamed Mahmoud Ely Mahmoud presented priorities for the next phase of the roadmap on December 5 during a meeting with the Minister of Digital Transformation, Innovation, and Public Administration Modernization.

The plan focuses on digitizing epidemiological data, creating a national vaccination database, and updating infrastructure, equipment, and medical supplies. Officials said these measures will ensure accurate information, support planning, and improve healthcare efficiency.

Last week, the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) launched digital initiatives. The E-CNAM platform digitizes prior authorization requests, medical document and invoice submissions, reimbursement tracking, external care management, and internal CNAM operations.

The same week, the government held its second ministerial committee on hospital reform, chaired by Prime Minister Moctar Ould Diay. Officials said digital transformation within hospitals is a key proposal to improve patient care.

On October 29, Mauritania launched its 2024–2030 National e-Health Strategy. ENABEL, a Belgian development partner, said the roadmap integrates digital solutions to expand equitable access to quality healthcare, extend coverage in remote areas, and enable telemedicine consultations. The strategy also seeks to rationalize costs and optimize drug imports and healthcare supply chains.

Ginger International, a French health and environmental consulting firm, works under an EU mandate to support digital health projects in Mauritania, launched in early November.

Afrobarometer reported in July 2025 that Mauritania’s health system faces structural obstacles, including insufficient infrastructure, a shortage of qualified medical personnel, high costs, and frequent stock-outs of medicines and equipment. The country has only about 26 doctors per 100,000 inhabitants, well below WHO recommendations.

The report noted high mortality rates: infant mortality stood at 46.35 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, while maternal mortality reached 766 per 100,000 live births, more than three times the global average.

The UNDP said digital health could help African countries overcome challenges, citing mobile penetration and usage. Officials expect digitalization to expand universal health coverage, reduce costs, improve access and quality, and extend services in underserved regions.

However, infrastructure gaps remain a concern. ITU data indicate that in 2022, 3G and 4G networks covered only 43.9% and 34.7% of the population, respectively, while 2G reached 97% in 2023. Internet penetration stood at 37.4%, compared with 79.1% for mobile telephony. Additional challenges include limited digital skills, insufficient funding, and weak governance, which may affect the success of the national e-Health strategy.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K.Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum