e-Banguka and e-Ubuzima: New digital platforms set to modernize healthcare services in Rwanda

The Ministry of Health has launched two digital platforms, e-Ubuzima and e-Banguka, to modernize healthcare services in Rwanda by replacing paper-based systems and long hospital queues with faster, technology-driven solutions. The platforms were unveiled on October 13 during the Africa HealthTech Summit at the Kigali Convention Centre, held under the theme “Connected Care: Scaling Innovation Towards UHC.” The event brought together more than 2,500 experts and policymakers to discuss how digital technology can transform healthcare in Africa. Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said the inte

The Ministry of Health has launched two digital platforms, e-Ubuzima and e-Banguka, to modernize healthcare services in Rwanda by replacing paper-based systems and long hospital queues with faster, technology-driven solutions. The platforms were unveiled on October 13 during the Africa HealthTech Summit at the Kigali Convention Centre, held under the theme “Connected Care: Scaling Innovation Towards UHC.” The event brought together more than 2,500 experts and policymakers to discuss how digital technology can transform healthcare in Africa. Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana said the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) marks a major milestone for Rwanda’s health sector. “There are two discoveries that changed the history of health: vaccines in 1796 and antibiotics in 1928. The third, today, is artificial intelligence in healthcare,” he said. Dr. Nsanzimana explained that technology is helping detect diseases earlier and improve treatment. “We can now detect heart disease before it strikes, or cancer before it spreads,” he noted. He compared the shift in healthcare to the digital transformation seen in banking. “Remember when we used to line up at banks? Today, everyone has a bank on their phone. Healthcare is going through the same change — reducing waiting lines and making services available from home.” How the platforms work e-Ubuzima will store and manage personal health records from community centers to national hospitals. It features Find a Doctor, allowing users to locate hospitals and book appointments online. Patients can also view medical test results and check insurance details on their phones. Another feature, “Ask a Doctor,” enables users to get instant medical advice from licensed Rwandan doctors without visiting a clinic. e-Banguka, on the other hand, will manage patient transfers and ambulance services. Each patient will have a unique identification number to track hospital visits, while ambulances will be monitored in real time for faster emergency response. Dr. Thierry Sebakunzi, a Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Health, said the goal is to make healthcare faster, smarter, and more accessible. “No one should be left behind  whether they have a smartphone or a basic phone, they’ll be able to access key services,” he said. The Ministry emphasized that both platforms aim to improve service delivery, cut waiting times, and make healthcare more efficient across Rwanda.