Page 99 - The Digital Financial Services (DFS) Ecosystem

ITU-T Focus Group Digital Financial Services
Ecosystem

Social Transfers

Finally, ID programs are found to link to social transfers and government assistance programs. In many cases IDs
verify beneficiary identity for program officials delivering services or goods. If an ID has an identifiable function
for social transfer programs beyond KYC, it is categorized into the type of program to which it is linked, including
cash transfers, relief, and welfare. Examples of these programs are detailed in previous sections, especially as
linkages with KYC and digital banking are often used for social transfers. However, Figure 9 further illustrates
the extent to which social transfers and ID programs are tied together.

Key Findings
• Four programs track services and treatment using national identifications registries. India and Pakistan
track immunizations, and Thailand and Uganda’s national ID’s facilitate patient management and tracking
at hospitals.
• Four ID programs assist with verification of eligibility/coverage/benefits (Cambodia, India, Thailand,
Uganda).
• 38 percent of the registries that underpin ID programs begin enrolling children at birth.

5.2 Health

Twelve ID programs are linked to health functions. Common health linkages include the following:

• ID to access services – Entering hospitals, and accessing healthcare or insurance applications.
• Tracking services and treatment – The ID is used to monitor patient services and treatment (i.e.
immunizations).
• Verification of eligibility/coverage/benefits – The registry or ID assists medical personnel to verify
eligibility, funnels registrants into correct eligibility categories, or itself signals eligibility for a given
healthcare program.

Figure 10 – ID Program Registration Ages

The inclusion of “identity” as a proposed Sustainable Development Goal (Goal 16.9 – By 2030, provide legal
identity for all, including birth registration) is partially rooted in the benefits that a population registry can bring
to public health. Dahan & Gelb (2015) include “improvements in maternal and child health, and coverage by
vaccines and similar treatments” as health goals that are buoyed by widespread adoption of ID documents,
registries, and systems. Challenges with issuing documentation, however, begin at birth. Worldwide, one in
every three children under five have never been registered or issued birth certificates. Lack of birth certificates

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