AI to Diagnose Patients and Prescribe Medication - Pilot Program Underway

Kigali 3 February 2026 - Rwanda is testing an AI-powered healthcare application designed to assist doctors in diagnosing patients and making quick decisions about medication prescriptions. The pilot is part of a government-backed project, Horizon 1000, developed in collaboration with the Bill Foundation and OpenAI. The project, currently tested in about 50 hospitals over the past two years, aims to accelerate medical services and improve care without replacing doctors. Muhire Andrew, Director of Information Technology at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that the technology supports clinical decisions but does not substitute human judgment. The application listens to patients describe their symptoms, records them, and helps medical staff determine the appropriate treatment, including urgent cases requiring advanced care. It is designed to function offline, addressing challenges in rural areas with limited internet access. If successful, Horizon 1000 could expand to 1,000 hospitals across Africa by 2028. The technology seeks to address Rwanda’s healthcare workforce shortage, where currently one doctor serves 1,000 patients, compared to the WHO recommendation of four doctors per 1,000 patients. Challenges remain, including language barriers, as the system currently operates in English, while 75% of Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda. Solutions are being explored to ensure accurate patient understanding and effective AI support. Following the Cabinet’s 2023 approval of the five-year National Policy to Accelerate AI Technology, an estimated $76.5 million investment is projected to mainstream AI across sectors, boosting economic development and innovation in Rwanda.