In a bold move to digitise public healthcare records, Rwanda has rolled out e-Ubuzima, an integrated electronic health records system poised to replace paper-based patient records across all public health facilities.
With a target of full nationwide adoption by December 2025, the initiative has the potential to redefine how digital health is deployed in low- and middle-income countries.
A Single Record That Follows The Patient
e-Ubuzima enables every Rwandan to have a single digital health record—one that moves with them from clinic to clinic, hospital to hospital.
Built by the Ministry of Health and its partners, the system is already active in 15 districts, allowing doctors to instantly access a patient’s history, medications, test results, and more.
Patients, in turn, benefit from quicker consultations and online appointment scheduling via a mobile app.
The new platform eliminates the need to carry paper files and represents a significant step towards healthcare data interoperability.
At its core, e-Ubuzima is about the efficiency of care: helping both clinicians and patients make smarter, safer health decisions.
The Tech Behind The Transition
What makes e-Ubuzima feasible isn’t just software—it’s the backbone of Rwanda’s growing digital infrastructure:
- Nationwide 4G/5G coverage already reaches over 99% of the population.
- Every health centre will soon have 25 or more computers and reliable Wi-Fi.
- Mobile tablets are in the hands of nurses and community health workers.
- A central Health Information Exchange (RHIE) ensures interoperability with insurance systems, labs, and pharmacies.
Each patient’s national ID number is linked to their medical data, so any authorised clinic can retrieve a full history in real time.
From smart hospitals in Kigali to rural health posts, the ambition is to offer a connected experience at every level of care.
Policy And Governance: Building Trust In The System
e-Ubuzima is not just a tech project; it’s a governance achievement.
Rwanda’s 2018–2023 Digital Health Strategic Plan laid the groundwork, emphasising interoperability, data security, and policy alignment.
Oversight is managed by a high-level, multi-agency governance council.
Supporting legislation, such as the Data Protection Law (No. 058/2021), ensures patient privacy, requiring explicit consent for data sharing.
Weekly strategic reviews help integrate e-Ubuzima with broader health targets, from insurance to maternal health.
Rwanda’s proactive governance makes it one of Africa’s most prepared nations to launch a nationwide digital health initiative.
Impact: Faster Care, Smarter Systems
While the rollout continues, early outcomes are promising:
- Shorter wait times and fewer lost files at clinics.
- Improved diagnostic accuracy thanks to historical data.
- Digital triaging and appointment scheduling reduce congestion.
- Nationwide data supports better disease surveillance and resource planning.
Clinicians report spending less time on paperwork and more time with patients.
Meanwhile, health officials can analyse trends in real time, helping to flag outbreaks or forecast vaccine needs.
One exciting frontier is telemedicine. With e-Ubuzima, district nurses can consult specialists via video while sharing real-time patient charts and records.
Rwanda plans to link this to its forthcoming Virtual Hospital, enabling remote care for millions.
Lessons For The Continent
Rwanda’s e-Ubuzima effort shows that with the right mix of political will, infrastructure, and community trust, digital health transformation is achievable.
Unlike pilots that stay in urban centres, this rollout reaches every district and includes both hardware upgrades and human capacity building.
As African countries face increasing demands on their healthcare systems, e-Ubuzima could serve as a playbook for digital-first healthcare.
“One patient, one record” isn’t just a tech slogan in Rwanda—it’s becoming a daily reality.
