Page 112 - The Digital Financial Services (DFS) Ecosystem

ITU-T Focus Group Digital Financial Services
Ecosystem

Figure 19 – Percentage of ID Programs with Health Linkages by Time Period

Beyond KYC identification to access health services, functional links involve e-government applications like
electronically confirming eligibility benefits and tracking services and treatment. When citizens have a unique
ID or ID card, systematically monitoring immunization rates or in-hospital care can become more efficient,
especially if digital capabilities allow access to a synchronized central database access of personal health
information (Ghen et al., 2013). Electronic or biometric IDs can potentially facilitate such functions. Given the
small number of programs with health connections, however, we find that only seven of the 27 digitalized
programs and eight of the 36 biometric programs are connected to the provision of health services (Table 12).
We also find no association between funding source and the likelihood of linkages to health services.

Table 12 – Digital and Biometric ID Programs Associated with Health Connections

No Health Connections / Not
Program Technical Features Health Connections
Specified
Programs Embedded with Electronic Component (27 7 21
Programs)

Programs Involving Biometrics (36 Programs) 8 28

7 Conclusion

The implementation of identification systems appears to be actively expanding in the developing world. The
relatively small literature on identification systems suggests that effective formalized identification establishes
a foundation through which development efforts can be facilitated, starting with the political, financial, and
healthcare inclusion of all citizens. Almost all countries we review articulate the important contribution a
formal national identity system can bring to their countries’ development. Many of them link or have plans to
link their national identity programs to a variety of different services, with the most common function being
KYC for providing financial services, healthcare, and voting access.

Gelb & Clark (2013) argue that the advancement of electronic and biometric technology has played an
important role in reducing the long-term cost of development and opening access to low-income countries,
especially as technology and security firms more frequently take on the role of developing and implementing the
programs in conjuncture with government agencies. However, in most programs biometrics are used primarily

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