Digital Health Strategy for Mauritania

The ‘Digital Health Strategy for Mauritania’ focuses on transforming the nation’s healthcare sector through the integration of cutting-edge digital technologies. Centred on improving healthcare delivery, accessibility, and efficiency, the strategy aligns with the country’s Digital Agenda 2022–2025. By prioritising initiatives such as the implementation of Shared Medical Records (Dossier Patient Partagé – DPP) and the digitisation of public health facilities, the strategy seeks to modernise healthcare infrastructure while addressing critical challenges in accessibility and service quality. Supported by the D4D Hub EU-Africa initiative with funding and technical assistance from the European Union and ENABEL, it represents a collaborative effort to merge international expertise with local healthcare priorities for a sustainable digital transformation.

The process is designed to unfold in two primary phases. In the first phase, the focus is on revising and formalising the digital health strategy. This includes workshops to integrate national healthcare priorities with global benchmarks. An example is how the workshops will explore aligning initiatives with WHO standards while addressing local needs. The second phase shifts to developing a Digital Health Master Plan, which involves analysing the current state of healthcare infrastructure, setting clear future objectives, and ensuring system interoperability. For instance, systems like the Hospital Information System (SIH) and Telemedicine platforms will be integrated to facilitate seamless data flow.

Key elements of this initiative include the organisation of a strategic seminar in November 2023, which will bring together diverse stakeholders such as ministry officials, regional health directors, representatives of private clinics, and international partners like the WHO and the European Union. The seminar will feature a range of activities, including bilateral meetings and field visits, aimed at obtaining a holistic view of the healthcare landscape. For example, site visits to primary healthcare centers will provide insights into existing challenges and opportunities for digital upgrades.

The strategy also incorporates thematic workshops that address specific areas such as strategic vision, telemedicine, and medicine management. In the case of telemedicine, the focus is on expanding remote healthcare to underserved regions by integrating telemedicine platforms with existing systems like the DPP. Similarly, systems will be developed to improve stock and distribution tracking across hospitals and pharmacies for medicine management. In terms of epidemiological surveillance, the emphasis will be on creating real-time disease monitoring systems through data collection and analysis.

The operational aspect of the strategy prioritises implementation levers such as governance, capacity development, and partnerships. Governance will involve establishing oversight committees to ensure strategic alignment and accountability. Capacity development will include training healthcare professionals and IT staff to use the new systems efficiently. Partnerships with international organisations, such as WHO for technical expertise and the EU for financial support, will be crucial in sustaining the initiative.

Monitoring and validation mechanisms are in place to ensure the success of this strategy. These involve periodic reviews of progress through evaluation workshops and feedback collection from healthcare professionals and patients. For example, feedback from pilot hospitals using the digital systems will inform improvements before scaling the initiative nationwide. This structured and collaborative approach aims to achieve a robust digital healthcare ecosystem that meets both national and international standards.