Among the major advances are kidney transplants, introduced locally in 2023, and advanced cardiac surgery. Both services are now routinely offered at King Faisal Hospital (KFH), Rwanda, underscoring the country's steady progress in specialised care.
According to Dr. Augustin Sendegeya, the Chief Medical Officer at KFH Rwanda, a total of 88 kidney transplants were performed in 2025. During the same period, 861 heart surgeries were conducted, including 543 procedures on children and 318 on adults.
Kidney transplantation is among the most complex medical services globally, typically available only in highly advanced healthcare systems. Its availability in Rwanda reflects more than three decades of progress in the country's health sector. Internationally, the procedure can cost upwards of USD 20,000, often within a single week.
In contrast, Rwanda provides kidney transplant services under the community-based health insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé), allowing patients to receive comprehensive care throughout the year.
Dr. Sendegeya noted that international partners involved in the programme are required not only to provide services but also to train Rwandan specialists.
'We are confident that from January 2026, kidney transplants will be performed entirely by Rwandan doctors, without external assistance,' he said.
The frequency of kidney transplants has also increased. While procedures were initially conducted once every three months, they are now carried out monthly, with plans underway to begin weekly transplants from 2026.
As a result, patients no longer need to travel abroad to access these services.
Expanding the health workforce
Rwanda has also embarked on an ambitious programme to quadruple the number of healthcare professionals. Previously, one doctor served approximately 1,000 people, compared to the national target of four doctors per 1,000 citizens.
Two years into implementation, the programme has reached 45 per cent of its target, with 1,522 students enrolled in medical training. The Ministry of Health has further expanded medical education by introducing 14 new training programmes, bringing the total to 25 across various specialisations.
Maternal and child health breakthroughs
In 2025, Rwanda recorded another medical milestone when a fetus received a blood transfusion while still in the womb, an unprecedented procedure in the country, successfully performed using advanced technology.
Improved training for specialists in maternal and reproductive health has contributed to a decline in maternal mortality, which fell from 111 to 82 deaths per 100,000 live births within a year.
Additionally, referrals of women experiencing childbirth complications to tertiary hospitals decreased by 30 per cent in secondary teaching hospitals, reflecting improved capacity at lower-level facilities.
Cervical cancer elimination drive
Rwanda is continuing its drive to eliminate cervical cancer by 2027, ahead of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) global target of 2030.
The government estimates that achieving this goal will require an investment of USD 38.4 million. WHO targets include vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against the human papillomavirus (HPV), screening 70 per cent of women aged 30â€"49 using HPV DNA testing, and ensuring timely treatment for 90 per cent of women diagnosed with the disease.
Rwanda is on track to meet these benchmarks at least three years early. Plans indicate that 627,889 girls aged 12 will be vaccinated, 1,366,880 women aged 30â€"49 screened, and 6,277 women treated for cervical cancer.
Currently, screening coverage stands at 34 per cent. About 92 per cent of women diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer recover following treatment, while 81 per cent of those with advanced disease receive modern care.
Emergency response and digital health
Improved cancer care has gone hand in hand with strengthened emergency medical services. In Kigali, emergency responders now reach patients within 15 minutes of an incident.
Nationwide, the ambulance fleet has expanded to 510 vehicles, supporting referrals to higher-level hospitals and rapid response to accidents and acute illnesses.
These services are reinforced by the Health Intelligence Centre, launched in April 2025. The platform aggregates real-time data from health facilities across the country, enabling faster decision-making, improved oversight, and more efficient delivery of health services.
Investment in medical technology
The health sector has also seen increased investment in modern diagnostic equipment, including sensor-based digital X-ray machines, 3D CT scanners, fluoroscopy systems for real-time organ imaging, mammography units for breast cancer screening, and ultrasound machines used in obstetrics and general diagnostics.
Among the most notable acquisitions is the ZEISS KINEVO 900 S surgical microscope at KF, the first of its kind in Rwanda, which enables surgeons to visualise minute anatomical structures and perform complex procedures with robotic assistance.
Nuclear medicine and pharmaceutical manufacturing
Looking ahead, Rwanda is set to begin producing medical radionuclides in 2026 for use in advanced nuclear medicine. The country has already received preliminary authorisation to produce these substances, which are used in PET scans for precise diagnosis.
This move is expected to position Rwanda as a regional hub for nuclear medicine, reducing reliance on imports from Europe and Egypt.
In April 2025, Rwanda also inaugurated a medical syringe manufacturing plant in Rwamagana District. At full capacity, the facility is expected to produce between 600 million and one billion syringes per day, supplying both domestic demand and regional markets.
Disease surveillance and mental health care
In November 2025, construction began on a USD 24 million laboratory dedicated to detecting zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans. The facility is expected to be completed within two years.
Mental healthcare also advanced in 2025, with KFH introducing Ketamine therapy for severe mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression and acute post-traumatic stress disorder.
While traditionally used as an anaesthetic, Ketamine has been shown to produce rapid improvement in some psychiatric patients, often within hours.
This development comes amid rising demand for mental health services. Data from the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) show that, in 2022/2023, an average of 3,305 people were diagnosed with mental health-related conditions each month. CARAES Ndera Neuropsychiatric Hospital reported treating 119,859 patients in 2024/2025, a 17.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
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