The Africa HealthTech Summit (AHTS) 2025 officially opened on October 13, 2025 in Kigali with a call for collaboration, equity, and innovation to drive the continent’s transition toward digitally connected health systems.
Held under the theme “Connected Care: Scaling Innovation Towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” the three-day summit brought together ministers, health leaders, investors, innovators, and development partners to chart Africa’s path to Universal Health Coverage through technology.
Delivering the keynote address, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, described artificial intelligence (AI) as a defining turning point in global medicine, likening its potential to the advent of antibiotics.
“We are living in a moment as historic as the discovery of antibiotics, one that can transform how we detect, prevent, and treat diseases,” Nsanzimana said.
He called for stronger policy frameworks and interoperability across health systems to ensure that digital innovation serves people equitably and sustainably.
In his remarks, Ivan Ntwali, Country Director of Mastercard Foundation Rwanda, underscored the pivotal role of Africa’s youth in reshaping the continent’s health future.
“Africa’s young people are not the leaders of tomorrow, but the change makers of today,” he said, emphasizing youth-led innovation as central to building inclusive and resilient health systems.
Digital innovation at the core of immunization and health intelligence
The summit explored how AI and data systems are redefining immunization delivery in Africa. Despite progress, over 10 million children on the continent still miss life-saving vaccines each year.
Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Deputy Director General of Africa CDC, emphasized the importance of digital infrastructure in achieving health sovereignty.
“A digitized healthcare system will guarantee the health security and sovereignty of our people,” he noted, calling for sustained investment in human capacity and financing to power the digital transition.
At the centre stage was a highlight on how digital forecasting, real-time data, and digital identity systems can strengthen immunization coverage, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
African governments have been urged to integrate digital tools into national plans and budgets to avoid fragmented pilot programs and ensure sustainable results.
The spotlight has turned to Rwanda’s National Health Intelligence Centre (NHIC) which was established to centralize health data and guide evidence-based planning. This has been showcased as a model of success for the region.
While countries such as Zambia, Burkina Faso, and Senegal have shared lessons from adapting Rwanda’s approach to health data integration, Dr. Rachel Sibande of the Gates Foundation praised Rwanda’s leadership, saying the NHIC “demonstrates the value of national ownership and leadership in digital transformation.
She also called for sustainable financing models that blend government funding, private sector engagement, and regional partnerships.
On his part, Dr. Muhamad Ssemakula, Permanent Secretary in Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, reinforced that leadership and data culture are key to digital transformation. He emphasized that AI and smart computing infrastructure will be crucial to advancing predictive analytics, resource optimization, and public health surveillance.
What is e-Ubuzima app?
Rwanda’s e-Ubuzima app is a flagship digital platform that manages electronic medical records and medical equipment data for the Ministry of Health. The app is designed to reduce diagnostic delays, improve patient care, and enhance data-driven decision-making.
This is a localized innovation for UHC which demonstrates Rwanda’s connected digital health ecosystem, a pioneering initiative to localize technology in pursuit of UHC.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yvan Butera explained that Rwanda’s progress stems from “over 30 years of structured health system development,” built on local innovation and youth-driven creativity.
e-Ubuzima and the NHIC embody Rwanda’s commitment to leveraging homegrown solutions for efficient, equitable care. It provides real-time data that is central to improving health financing and predictive health analytics, ensuring that decision-making is timely and evidence-based.
“Our digital transformation is guided by the belief that technology must be built around people, not the other way around,” Butera said.
