(Ecofin Agency) - • Guinea-Bissau intensifies its digital transformation push, focusing on health services.

• Partnership with Italy’s Antares Vision Group to digitize the pharmaceutical system.

• Move aims to address healthcare gaps and improve access to care using ICT tools.

Guinea-Bissau is ramping up efforts to modernize its healthcare system as part of a nationwide digital transformation strategy launched in January. The plan aims to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to support economic development across all sectors, with healthcare as a top priority.

The government is deepening its partnership with Italian firm Antares Vision Group. The collaboration began in February when both parties signed a deal to digitize Guinea-Bissau’s pharmaceutical supply system. During a visit to Antares Vision headquarters on May 26, Public Health Minister Pedro Tipote reaffirmed the government’s commitment to digital health.

“Through this initiative, Guinea-Bissau aims to situate itself as a potential leader in digital health, promoting a model centered on reliable data, secure supply chains, and active citizen engagement,” Tipote said.

The strategy unfolds in a health system marked by structural weaknesses. According to UNICEF, 66% of the population lives more than five kilometers from the nearest health facility, with each center serving an average of over 13,500 people. Most facilities are concentrated in Bissau and regional capitals.

A 2022 study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) highlighted the promise of digital health in Africa. It noted that mobile phones, widely used across the continent, could enable better patient care, raise revenues at clinics, improve decision-making with real-time data, and offer remote services and e-learning tools for health workers.

“Digital technology is a key factor in expanding universal health coverage by lowering barriers such as cost, difficult access, or the lack of quality care while extending the range of services offered,” the study noted.

While the government has begun laying the groundwork, the program is still in its early phase. Some solutions have been piloted by UNDP, but the full-scale impact remains to be seen.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has flagged major challenges for digital health rollouts in countries like Guinea-Bissau. These include limited ICT infrastructure, insufficient funding, a lack of digital skills among medical staff, and little involvement of healthcare workers in designing e-health platforms.

Internet usage in Guinea-Bissau stood at 32.5% in 2023, with mobile penetration at 64%. However, 47% of the population still lacks 3G coverage, while 68% is without 4G. Other obstacles include the cost and availability of smartphones, data plans, and the general level of digital literacy.