Rwanda is hosting the Africa Health Technology Summit (AHTS), bringing together health professionals, investors, technology experts, innovators and other stakeholders to discuss how technology can transform healthcare services across the continent.
The summit, which concludes on September 30, 2026, is focused on how African countries can use technology to make healthcare services faster, more accessible and more effective for their populations.
Rwanda is hosting the summit as digital technology continues to play an increasing role in its healthcare system, with the country highlighting several innovations that have been introduced to improve service delivery.
Among the technologies being used in Rwanda is the deployment of drones to deliver medical supplies and blood to health facilities across the country.
The country has also introduced digital health systems including e-Ubuzima, e-Banguka and telemedicine, which are being used to improve access to healthcare and strengthen the management of health information.
e-Ubuzima is a digital system used to manage patients’ medical records at health centres and hospitals across the country. It replaced paper-based records and is designed to allow health workers to access patients’ information electronically and in real time.
Another system, e-Banguka, supports emergency response by helping residents request ambulance services from wherever they are in the country.
According to information presented at the summit, the system has helped reduce the time it takes for an ambulance to reach a patient from about 50 minutes to 15 minutes.
A total of 530 ambulances in Rwanda have been integrated into the e-Banguka system.
Rwanda has also established a health information centre that collects and analyses data on diseases, emergency services and other health-related issues using digital technology.
Speaking about the importance of digital health information, Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said Rwanda wants to strengthen the use of technology to ensure that decisions in the health sector are based on reliable and timely data.
“If you do not know where a disease is coming from or what a patient is suffering from, you are like a doctor treating in the dark with your eyes closed,” Nsanzimana said.
He said health information is important in understanding a patient’s condition, determining appropriate treatment and maintaining a record of previous care when the patient returns.
Nsanzimana added that bringing together health information from across the country can also help authorities understand the overall health situation and make appropriate decisions.
The government has also been using technology to strengthen the work of Community Health Workers.
Community Health Workers have been provided with mobile phones that help them assess patients and submit health information electronically. The initiative is intended to improve the delivery of healthcare services at community level and bring services closer to residents.
The Africa Health Technology Summit is also providing a platform for discussions on investment in health technology across the continent.
Ahead of the summit, agreements were signed between companies and financial institutions to support innovators developing health technology projects in different African countries.
The financing is expected to help health technology innovators develop and scale solutions aimed at addressing healthcare challenges across the continent.
This is the fifth time Rwanda has hosted the Africa Health Technology Summit, highlighting the country’s continued participation in discussions around the use of technology to strengthen healthcare systems in Africa.
The summit brings together stakeholders from different sectors to explore opportunities for collaboration, investment and innovation in health technology, with a focus on improving healthcare outcomes and access to services across the continent.
