Rwanda has treated more than 1,100 heart patients within the country over the past four years, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of specialised healthcare services.
State Minister for Health Dr. Yvan Butera said the achievement reflects Rwanda’s growing capacity to diagnose, treat and manage cardiovascular diseases locally, reducing the need for costly referrals abroad.
Speaking to RBA, Dr. Butera noted that heart disease was previously among the leading causes of medical referrals outside the country.
“In the past four years, we have treated about 1,100 patients here in Rwanda who would otherwise have been sent abroad for treatment,” he said.
He added that the progress has been driven by strong partnerships with international medical specialists, alongside continuous training of Rwandan doctors to strengthen local expertise in cardiology and cardiac surgery.
“We are not only treating patients but also training Rwandan doctors so that we build more specialists in this field,” he said.
Health officials say cardiovascular diseases remain a growing global concern, including congenital heart conditions affecting children, particularly those under the age of five.
Statistics indicate that globally, one in every 100 children is born with a heart defect, and about 25% of cases require surgical intervention.
On June 14, 2026, specialist surgeons from the “Save a Child’s Heart” organisation carried out procedures on children with heart conditions in Rwanda. The organisation noted that while children previously had to be referred to Israel for treatment, cooperation with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health now allows more cases to be managed locally.
Rwanda has significantly expanded its cardiac care capacity in recent years, including the launch of cardiac surgery services at King Faisal Hospital in 2020, where Rwandan doctors began performing complex heart procedures for the first time.
The country is also investing in long-term infrastructure, including the construction of a specialised cardiac treatment centre in Masaka in partnership with Egypt, aimed at strengthening advanced cardiovascular care services.
