Rwanda will have all of its medical records digitalized by December

The entire implementation of the e-Ubuzima digital health system in all medical facilities is anticipated by December, according to Ministry of Health officials, who also anticipate that all medical records will be totally digitized nationwide.

In addition to allowing physicians and patients to access medical records online, the platform unifies healthcare services. The government wants to move from a paper-based system to a fully digital one, and it is now being implemented in facilities in 15 districts.

According to Muhammad Semakula, the ministry’s head of planning, monitoring and evaluation, and health financing, the deployment is difficult, he told The New Times. The main logistical problem, particularly in providing facilities with sufficient technology, is that the digital system itself is ready.

All healthcare facilities must have computers. To be completely digitalized, a facility requires at least 25 computers, he clarified.

As you may imagine, we have a lot of health centers. That number pertains to medical facilities. Larger facilities may require even more because of the numerous departments,” he continued.

Along with equipment provision, the ministry is concentrating on educating healthcare professionals and encouraging behavioral changes, especially among employees who might not be as accustomed to digital systems.

We’ve noticed that, in comparison to younger personnel, many elderly employees are less computer literate and less inclined to use digital technologies. Because of this, regular training is required,” he continued.

Semakula emphasized that it takes around two weeks of intense labor to convert a facility into a fully digital operation. Internet access is yet another essential element in the process of digitization.

“We also need to ensure every facility has reliable internet access,” according to him.

He said, “We have a goal: by the end of this year, all Rwandan health facilities should be completely digital and paperless.”

Additionally, he emphasized current initiatives to digitize community-level healthcare services. The health ministry intends to make all community health services available via smartphones with internet connectivity by June, so all services should be digitalized by then.

Nearly 50,000 community health workers are employed by Rwanda in a variety of localities. Health education, treating children under five for illnesses like malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea, and screening for anemia and malnutrition are some of their responsibilities.

In a previous interview, Semakula outlined the benefits of e-Ubuzima in terms of providing quality service.

The first benefit is the ability to track down a patient’s medical records if they visit a facility. This can support effective service provision. Not all people can explain their medical history to a doctor, so the doctor will have a clear understanding of the patient’s medical history,” he stated.

“Occasionally, individuals may forget the last medication they took or what the doctor told them. This program will fix all of these problems,” he continued.

Additionally, patients will receive notifications on all necessary payments for medical treatments, according to Semakula.

He stated that “the patient will be able to make payments instantly using any available digital payment method, including mobile money.”

According to Semakula, a doctor’s dashboard will include timetables, patients who are waiting, treatment protocols, and approved medications to make their job easier.

The Ministry of Health would also use the platform to disseminate reliable information, he emphasized.

The Ministry of Health is also getting ready to start a pilot program for a new facility called a “virtual hospital,” which will enable medical professionals to treat and confer with patients from all around the nation.

Although the experts will be stationed in a central area of Kigali, they will be able to assist patients and medical professionals in clinics and hospitals around the country without an in-person presence.

Telemedicine, a method that delivers healthcare remotely via digital tools including video chats, smartphone apps, and web platforms, will be used by the virtual hospital.