Rwanda to digitize healthcare records nationwide by 2025

RWANDA—Rwanda has taken a significant step toward modernising its healthcare system, with the Ministry of Health announcing plans to digitise healthcare records nationwide by December 2025 fully.

This ambitious initiative centers around the rollout of the e-Ubuzima digital health platform, which is already operational in health facilities across 15 districts and is set to expand to every health facility in the country.

The e-Ubuzima platform consolidates healthcare services, enabling doctors and patients to access medical records online.

 This marks a significant shift from the traditional paper-based system, promising greater efficiency and improved patient care.

 With this digital transformation, patients will be able to schedule appointments, view their medical history, access laboratory results, and receive prescriptions all through the app.

Healthcare providers, on the other hand, will benefit from streamlined workflows, as they can track patient histories, manage appointments, and access treatment guidelines on a centralized dashboard.

One of the key benefits of e-Ubuzima is its potential to reduce hospital waiting times.

Patients will no longer need to wait in long queues without knowing when a doctor will see them, as the system allows for appointment scheduling and real-time notifications for both patients and providers.

Additionally, the platform supports instant payments for medical services through mobile money and other digital payment methods, making the process more convenient for users.

However, the journey to full digitization is not without challenges.

Muhammed Semakula, Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Health Financing at the Ministry of Health, highlighted that logistics remain a significant hurdle while the digital system itself is ready

. Each health facility requires a minimum of 25 computers to operate efficiently, and larger hospitals may need even more due to multiple departments.

Equipping all facilities with the necessary technology is a substantial undertaking, especially considering the number of health centers across Rwanda.

In addition to hardware, the ministry is focused on training healthcare workers to ensure smooth adoption of the new system.

 Special attention is being given to older staff members who may have lower computer literacy and are less familiar with digital tools.

 Consistent training and support are being provided to encourage behavior change and build confidence in using the new platform.

Reliable internet connectivity is another critical component, as every facility must have stable access to the internet to fully utilize the digital system.

The government’s digital health strategy also extends to the community level.

By June, all community health services are expected to be digitized, and nearly 50,000 Community Health Workers across the country will be equipped with smartphones and internet access.

These workers play a vital role in health education, disease treatment, and screening for conditions such as malaria, pneumonia, and malnutrition among children.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Health is preparing to launch a pilot project for a “virtual hospital.”

 This innovative facility will allow medical specialists based in Kigali to consult and treat patients remotely, leveraging telemedicine technologies such as video calls, mobile apps, and online platforms.

The virtual hospital aims to address the shortage of healthcare workers, especially in remote areas, by enabling specialists to provide support without being physically present.

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