The Ministry of Health in Rwanda has unveiled two new digital health platforms, E-Ubuzima and E-Banguka, aimed at transforming how healthcare services are delivered across the country. These systems are designed to shift from paper-based records and long queues at hospitals to streamlined, technology-driven services.
This happened on Monday, October 13, 2025, during the opening of the AfricaHealth Tech Summit in Kigali a high-profile continental conference that brought together medical researchers, investors, and technology leaders from across Africa.
During the summit, the Ministry showcased E-Ubuzima and E-Banguka, describing them as groundbreaking tools that would revolutionize how patients interact with the healthcare system. “We realized that incorporating technology and artificial intelligence into our health system doesn’t just make things efficient it saves lives,” said Dr. Nsanzimana.
He provided examples of how Rwanda has already used innovation to improve healthcare. One such example is Zipline’s drone delivery system, which now routinely delivers blood, vaccines, and medications to remote hospitals a service once met with skepticism.
“In the beginning, people didn’t believe it. They asked, ‘How can blood be delivered from the sky to a hospital?’ But today, it’s normal. Rural hospitals now receive medical supplies quickly, and patients are rescued much faster,” He said.
Digitizing healthcare access: No more mong lines
Minister Nsanzimana compared the changes happening in healthcare to the digital transformation of the banking sector:
“Do you remember when we used to queue up at the bank? Now we carry the bank in our phones. The same shift is happening in healthcare. One of our main priorities is to eliminate the long waiting lines in hospitals.” He highlighted how patients often waste valuable time sitting in hospital corridors waiting to register, pay, consult a doctor, or receive test results. With digital platforms, these processes will now become faster, easier, and more accessible.
“All of these services should now come to you in your home, or on your phone. You’ll be able to consult your doctor via phone, book appointments online, receive prescriptions, and even request medication deliveries all without setting foot in a hospital.”
Understanding E-Ubuzima: A complete digital health system
Dr. Thierry Sebakunzi, a Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Health, explained the functionalities of E-Ubuzima in detail. E-Ubuzima is designed as an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system that will store a patient’s complete medical history from their first visit to a community health worker all the way to national referral hospitals. It will serve as a centralized database accessible by authorized healthcare providers at different levels. Key features of E-Ubuzima include:
1. Shaka muganga (Find a doctor)
This feature enables users to browse hospitals across Rwanda, view doctors by specialty, and request appointments directly without needing to visit the hospital physically. “Let’s say you have a specific medical condition you can now go into the system, see available doctors, and schedule an appointment instantly. This avoids unnecessary journey,” Dr. Sebakunzi explained.
2. Access to lab results: Patients can view results of laboratory tests or other medical investigations whether they were done at a local health post or a major referral hospital. This reduces paperwork and speeds up follow-up care. “It’s like the old patient health card, but now it’s fully digital and available from anywhere,” He added.
3. Health insurance information; People can check their insurance coverage, confirm if their policy is active, and see details for their family members all from their mobile device, whether it’s a smartphone or a basic feature phone (locally known as a “gatushe”).
4. Baza muganga (Ask the doctor):
Patients with minor health concerns can type their questions on the platform and receive responses from certified medical professionals without traveling to a clinic. “This feature allows people to get medical advice for non-serious issues in real time. We have doctors from across the country ready to respond,” said Dr. Sebakunzi. Importantly, the system is being built to work on smartphones, basic phones, and even integrate with other services, making it inclusive and accessible to all Rwandans.
E-Banguka: Transforming Emergency and Referral Services
The second platform, E-Banguka, focuses on improving referral systems and emergency ambulance services. Through E-Banguka, patients can be digitally referred from one health facility to another. The system will also store the complete referral history for each patient, using a unique patient ID number.
Another major feature is ambulance tracking and coordination. Health officials will be able to see where each ambulance is in real time, assess how quickly it can reach a patient, and optimized ispatch to reduce delays in emergency care. “This will drastically improve how we respond to emergencies. Every patient and ambulance will be part of a connected system,” said Dr. Sebakunzi.
A future-focused health vision for Rwanda
With the launch of E-Ubuzima and E-Banguka, Rwanda is positioning itself as a continental leader in health technology. These platforms are not just tools they represent a vision for a more equitable, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system. “These systems are about more than technology. They are about respecting people’s time, preserving their dignity, and saving lives,” Dr. Nsanzimana concluded.
