Held under the theme "Enabling Healthcare Access through Digital Innovation," the event brought together industry leaders, insurers, healthcare providers, and government stakeholders to celebrate Smart's suite of cutting-edge solutions designed to streamline healthcare access across Rwanda and beyond.
The Smart Access app, now available on Google Play, allows users to manage their healthcare needs seamlessly, with features such as biometric verification, real-time insurance information, provider location services, and wellness tracking.
With roaming capability across 12 African countries, members can access healthcare services without pre-authorisation or coverage concerns, making it a vital tool for regional mobility. The platform also supports uninsured patients by enabling them to locate nearby healthcare providers and access educational health content, promoting inclusive access to care.
'Today marks a pivotal moment in Rwanda's journey toward a digitally empowered healthcare system,' said Cleophas Obiero, Country Manager for Smart Applications International Rwanda.
'Our goal is simple yet powerful: to enable every individual, regardless of where they are, to access quality healthcare with dignity and ease.'
Reflecting on his own experience in 2013, when a hospital visit in Kigali took three hours due to manual insurance verification, Obiero highlighted the app's transformative impact.
'With Smart Access, you provide your member number, place your fingerprint, and you're served. Claims are sent instantly, and hospitals are paid on time.'
Operating in 680 Rwandan healthcare facilities and over 9,000 across 12 African countries, Smart Applications manages transactions worth approximately 290 Rwandan francs for 1.7 billion people.
Obiero emphasised the company's commitment to local innovation, citing how the app eliminates the need for physical insurance cards.
'A child in Burera can now get treatment with just a member number and a fingerprint, without someone travelling from Kigali,' he said.
Harrison Muiru, Group Managing Director of Smart Applications International Limited, praised Rwanda's progressive approach to digital healthcare.
'Rwanda ranks first in East Africa in the Universal Health Coverage Essential Services Index, thanks to its commitment to digitisation and patient-centred care,' Muiru said, noting Rwanda's 53% score on the World Health Organisation's Universal Health Coverage Essential Services Index.
'Rwanda's conducive environment for digitisation allows us to contribute to patient-centred care,' Muiru added, emphasising compliance with global data privacy and protection standards like HIPAA and GDPR.
He highlighted how Smart Applications has supported this progress by integrating identity management, claims processing, and data analytics into a unified ecosystem that serves insurers, hospitals, and patients alike.
'This digital ecosystem eliminates cumbersome paperwork and lengthy communication processes,' Muiru noted. 'It enables real-time data-driven decision making for better inventory management, underwriting, and ultimately, improved health outcomes.'
The Group Managing Director and his team showcased the company's broader ecosystem of solutions, including SmartHealth+ (a hospital management ERP), SmartInsure (a medical insurance ERP), SmartAnalytics (real-time data dashboards), and SmartLink, which enables seamless patient access to hospital services.
'Every second, about 80,000 healthcare transactions are managed on our platform,' Muiru said.
Lessons from the app's 2022 launch in Kenya have shaped its rollout in Rwanda, with a focus on versatility and user-centric design.
'We've made the app navigable and empowering, catering to scenarios like a child falling sick at school,' he explained.
Andrew Kulayige, CEO of Britam Insurance (Rwanda) Ltd and Chair of the Association of Insurers in Rwanda, praised Smart's solutions as a catalyst for increasing insurance penetration, currently at 2%.
'Platforms like Smart Access allow us to reach every corner of this country, offering accessibility, reliability, and flexibility,' he said.
Mendies Mhiribidi, Chairperson of the Rwanda Insurance Brokers Association, called Smart Access a 'human face to insurance.'
She noted its role in reducing fraud and enhancing transparency, allowing members to view benefits, entitlements, and hospital charges in real time.
'Hospitals can't overcharge or add unnecessary services anymore,' Mhiribidi said.
Urging the public to embrace the technology, she added, 'This innovation simplifies your life and improves your healthcare experience.'
With the Smart solutions and the visionary leadership in the country, the leaders affirmed that Rwanda is well-positioned to leverage Smart's solutions for medical tourism and universal health coverage.
The company's AI-driven tools, real-time analytics, and interoperable platforms like SmartLink further enhance operational efficiency, from inventory management to claims processing, aligning with national digital health initiatives.
Integration of AI to enhance service delivery, such as generating and previewing e-claims, is designed to minimise rejections, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
'We are here to work together for smart, secure, seamless healthcare,' Muiru noted, calling for continued collaboration.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
