Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health (MINSANTE) plans to digitalise payment processes and revenue collection across public hospitals.

According to a report by the country’s Ministry of Finance the public treasury loses 700-billion CFA each year to untraceable cash transactions linked to payment for medical services.

The report also found that some employees within the healthcare sector have manipulated loopholes in the manual system to falsify data and commit fraud.

At a recent meeting hosted in the capital Yaounde, MINSANTE officials confirmed progress made in its short-term effort to mitigate risk.

The Mvog-Ada District Hospital has been identified as a pilot site for the government’s digitalisation of payment of consultation, medical and medico-legal certificates, as well as mortuary fees.

Officials added that the new payment mechanism will be extended to cover other medical services before being rolled out to all public hospitals in Douala and Yaounde.

Once the technology is officially given the green light, it will be extended to all public health facilities across the country, approximately 2,260 in total. This is dependent on a strong legislative and regulatory framework in place.

The development is part of the country’s wider 2020-2024 National Digital Health Strategic Plan which involves the implementation of an integrated electronic hospital management system, as well interconnection and provision of IT equipment to health facilities.