Rwanda Social Security Board has introduced a service which other service providers should have done ages ago. Soon it will be possible for one to use their national ID when accessing medical services instead of the usual RAMA insurance membership card. One might think nothing of it at first, but when the electronic identity card was first introduced, a smartcard was soon to follow which was supposed to incorporate all the holder’s details i.e. bank and immigration details, driver’s permit, etc. In fact, the National Identification Agency (NIDA) had set a timeline to introduce the chip-embedded smartcard to hold all the details. Then, suddenly, everything went silent. NIDA did not go back to the public to update them yet it had announced its imminent introduction with much fanfare. What is so difficult about rolling out the smartcard? The most important part of the whole operation is having a secure registry and it is most probable that it was the first thing that NIDA addressed. Prompt communication is what has been requested of government agencies, nothing much. It is only fair for the population to be informed, especially on matters that concern them directly. The driver’s licence and mobile telephone simcards are already linked to the national ID, what are the other services waiting for? Let us hope that concerned authorities get the smartcard back on track as it will reduce a lot of red tape and paperwork. Actually, going paperless is one of the government’s set priorities; how far is the project?
