The technology was officially introduced on July 21, 2026, at Nemba Hospital in Gakenke District and is expected to be rolled out to other parts of the country.
The system will be used whenever a pregnant woman develops complications that would normally require referral to a higher-level hospital.
Instead of immediately transferring the patient, the attending doctor will use the telemedicine platform to consult a specialist remotely. The specialist will assess the case and provide guidance on the appropriate treatment, allowing the patient to receive expert care without necessarily being referred elsewhere.
Dr. Uwacu Mudusa Ghislain, a physician at Nemba Hospital, explained how the technology works and the benefits it is expected to bring.
“I will wear a camera and simply tell it what I want it to do, and it will respond. The camera will connect me with a specialist at the Ministry of Health, who will help me manage any complex case I encounter while treating a patient. This will help reduce the number of patients referred to hospitals in Kigali in search of specialists.”
One patient, Ingabire Josiane, told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) that she initially visited the hospital with severe abdominal pain. Although she received basic treatment, her condition did not improve. After doctors consulted a specialist through the new telemedicine system, she received the appropriate treatment and recovered.
“They consulted a specialist using the technology and treated me successfully. We appreciate the Government of Rwanda for advancing technology because people receive faster services, and knowing that specialists are involved gives us confidence in the care we receive.”
The Ministry of Health says the telemedicine technology will first be deployed in hospitals that record the highest numbers of maternal and newborn deaths.
According to national health statistics, 95% of births in Rwanda take place in health facilities. The country currently records 203 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, 19 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births, 45 deaths of children under five per 1,000 live births, and 33 infant deaths (under one year of age) per 1,000 live births.
Courtesy of IGIHE
