Once-only principal data

Once Only Data Policy

The kingdom of Bahrain’s Once Only Data Policy aims to increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden among government entities and constituents, enable communication across government entities while protecting personal information.

The policy supports the development of the required mechanism to encourage and support for “Once Only Data” initiatives so constituents do not have to provide data to government entities more than once while adhering to the Kingdom’s data privacy and data protection regulations.

For more details view the Digital Government Policies document.

The National Authentication Framework Project (eKey system)

The iGA built the National Authentication Framework (eKey system)  in order to transform the government’s approach about authenticating people’s identities, ease citizens’ access to government services, and enable the government to serve more services through eChannels.  eKey was implemented as both a web-based solution and a webservice. This allowed government entities to replace their fragmented authentication efforts with eKey on multiple channels including web, and mobile apps. By integrating eServices with eKey, users could readily access these eServices with their eKey accounts.

The authentication process of eKey account involves three levels of security: password (PIN), smartcard and biometric (fingerprint) identity verification to ensure that such transactions are carried out in a highly secured environment, particularly with the huge increase of eGovernment services.

The eKey system has also enabled Single-Sign-On on the National Portal bahrain.bh, which enable users to access all available eServices with a single login. This has contributed to the eGovernment’s vision of delivering eServices to customers effectively. The vision will be fully realized when this feature is extended to work across multiple websites, allowing users to login with eKey account, and navigate through the eServices without the need to login again, as eKey will maintain the session for all eKey-enabled eServices. A working plan is already in place with Key governmental entities to turn that vision into reality and advocate the whole of government practices within the Kingdom.

Smart Card (ID Card)

The ID Card Project is one of a series of flagship projects initiated by the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) that will bring about substantial developments in the government performance. The ID card project is a Bahraini aspiration towards a better future for the Kingdom and aims to provide better tools for procuring electronic government services which are available and provided to citizens. These services are provided so that citizens may complete their transactions in the fastest and easiest manner possible while adhering to the highest standards of security and privacy.

The smartcard, which has been named the ID card, combines three current cards into one:

The immigration ID card issue by the General Directorate for Passports, Nationality and Residence (GDNPR)

The driving license issued by the General Directorate for Traffic (GDT)

The Central Population Registry (CPR) card issued by the (iGA)

The new ID card will also be considered a health card, an election card, a labor card, an electronic payment card (e-Purse) and a travel document to allow cardholder to pass through the electronic border control gates. This will be in addition to other implementations which depend on the verifications of the users’ identity through the use of the cardholders stored fingerprint data.

National Health Information System (I-SEHA program)

I-SEHA Program contributes to improve the delivery of services for patients, increase efficiency, speed of delivery in line with the best internationally recognized practices by offering clinical systems and the requisite cutting-edge ITC infrastructure, along with linking to systems in relation to finance, warehouse and human resources, in addition to coordination with other government entities to achieve integration, avoiding duplication of efforts and costs.

The project provides executives at the Ministry of Health with a reliable source of information that can be utilized to develop evidence based plans and strategies to improve the health system.

The I-SEHA program covers a full range of areas such as: electronic integration to the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), patient database, MoH resource database, employee account department, births and deaths, appointments, radiology, drug prescription, primary healthcare, outpatient clinics, pharmacy and distribution of drugs, billing, intensive care, laboratory, surgery and theater, and emergency etc.

The key hallmarks of the I-SEHA program are the application of the electronic unified medical record for all citizens and expatriates. The program will include comprehensive electronic medical patient data that contains the merits of the case,

In addition to treatment history and an access to patient case history and family history.

The system enables the physician speed diagnosis and makes the best decisions.