Smart Access App rolls out in Rwanda’s health sector

A new mobile application launched in Kigali on July 25 aims to transform the way Rwandans interact with healthcare, making access faster, more inclusive, and less burdensome due to paperwork. Unveiled by Smart Applications International, the Smart Access mobile app enables users to verify insurance coverage biometrically, locate service providers in real-time, and manage their wellness, all from a mobile device. But beyond convenience, according to Group Managing Director Harrison Muiru, the app also reduces waiting times, curbs fraud, and bridges access gaps across urban and rural communities. “The environment here supports patient-centred care,” he said, referencing Rwanda’s top regional ranking in the World Health Organization (WHO) Universal Health Coverage Essential Services Index. Official statistics indicate that more than 680 healthcare facilities in Rwanda and over 9,000 across Africa already run on Smart’s systems. The integration of artificial intelligence, from auto-generated e-claims to predictive analytics, is also helping providers reduce claim rejections and improve turnaround times. Muiru maintained that the app’s rollout in Rwanda builds on lessons from its 2022 debut in Kenya, with a focus on intuitive user experience. “We designed this with the parent whose child falls sick at school in mind,” said Muiru. For now, stakeholders see Smart Access not just as a product, but as part of a shift towards a more responsive, transparent, and integrated health system, one that could eventually support Rwanda’s broader ambitions in universal coverage and medical tourism. “The technology is here,” Muiru added, “Now it’s about collaboration to make smart, secure, and seamless healthcare the standard.” Muiru shared similar sentiments with Cleophas Obiero, Country Manager of Smart Applications Rwanda, towards the development. “With Smart Access, it’s your number, a fingerprint, and you’re served. No more delays,” he said. Now available on Google Play, the app also works across 12 African countries, removing the need for prior authorisation when seeking treatment while traveling. It supports even those without insurance, offering location services and access to educational health content. For a country where insurance penetration stands at just 2 percent, this matters. “This app is the human face of insurance,” said Mendies Mhiribidi, Chairperson of the Rwanda Insurance Brokers Association. She noted how real-time benefit tracking will discourage unnecessary charges and improve transparency. At the heart of this development is a digital ecosystem that connects insurers, hospitals, and patients. Smart Applications’ broader suite includes tools like SmartInsure, SmartAnalytics, and SmartLink, platforms that collectively handle around 80,000 transactions per second, according to the company’s executives. Britam Insurance Rwanda chief executive Andrew Kulayige, who also doubles as chair of the Association of Insurers in Rwanda, believes this could expand insurance uptake. “Platforms like this allow us to reach every corner of the country, reliably and flexibly,” he reiterated.

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Smart Access App rolls out in Rwanda’s health sector