Application of Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Rwandan Healthcare System Experience

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), health services are offered by the public sector, government-assisted health facilities (GAHFs), private health facilities, and traditional healers. Rwanda’s healthcare system operates on national, provincial, and local levels. Like many SSA countries, Rwanda has leveraged twentieth-century advancements in information and communications technology. The OpenClinic tool was introduced at Kigali University Teaching Hospital in 2007 as a web application accessible through a browser. However, the integration of technology in healthcare system faces different challenges such as interruptions in electricity supply and poor Internet connectivity, both essential to run the needed software applications. Moreover, there is limited expertise in technology for supporting programming and repairs within healthcare settings. In developing countries, implementing interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) in healthcare systems can address major health issues like poverty, health illiteracy, and resource shortages. IPCP integrates diverse teams, including non-healthcare professionals, to improve patient outcomes. In a healthcare collaborative environment, the input of informatics specialists, technology experts, economists, and logisticians is crucial to the success of IPCP.