Bill Gates, the founder of Gates Foundation, has visited Rwanda’s National Health Intelligence Center (NHIC), a facility that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to collect and analyze health data to improve healthcare planning and service delivery.
Gates visited the centre as part of his ongoing tour of Rwanda, where he is exploring the country’s progress in using technology and innovation to strengthen public services, particularly in the health sector.
During the visit, he was received by Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana and Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire, who presented how NHIC uses digital technology to integrate and analyze health information from different healthcare providers across the country.
NHIC serves as a national health data platform that collects, processes and analyzes real-time information from community health workers, health posts, health centres, district hospitals, referral hospitals and other health institutions.
The system provides Rwanda with an updated overview of the health situation across the country, enabling authorities to make evidence-based decisions and anticipate challenges before they escalate.
In its first year of operation, NHIC has supported improvements in healthcare delivery by helping shift the country from responding to health challenges after they occur to predicting and preventing them through data-driven approaches.
The centre’s data has contributed to reducing patient waiting times, improving emergency response through better ambulance coordination, strengthening disease monitoring and helping ensure that medical resources reach areas with the greatest needs.
Rwanda plans to further expand NHIC’s capabilities through advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to strengthen disease prediction, provide early warnings for potential outbreaks and support preventive healthcare interventions.
Established in April 2024 by the Ministry of Health, NHIC combines health information from multiple sources and applies modern technologies, including AI, to generate insights that support healthcare decision-making.
Gates’ visit comes as Rwanda and the Gates Foundation continue their long-standing partnership in improving healthcare outcomes and supporting innovation in the health sector.
During his stay in Rwanda, Gates also met with President Paul Kagame, where discussions focused on cooperation between Rwanda and the Gates Foundation, particularly in areas related to health, technology and development.
The Gates Foundation has partnered with Rwanda for more than two decades, supporting initiatives aimed at improving public health and strengthening healthcare systems.
Through the foundation, Gates has supported Rwanda’s efforts to apply artificial intelligence in areas such as maternal health and disease treatment. Under programmes including Horizon 1000, Rwanda is among the countries testing AI-powered solutions in primary healthcare facilities.
Gates also visited a syringe manufacturing plant in Rwamagana District, as well as Mwulire Health Centre, where he learned about healthcare delivery at community level through interactions with health workers.
The visit reflects Rwanda’s growing efforts to position technology and innovation as key drivers in building a more efficient, data-driven and responsive healthcare system.
