Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies to provide distant clinical healthcare at. The technology helps improve access to medical services that would otherwise not be available in rural areas.
A pilot study is set to be conducted for a period of three months starting on February 1.
On a sunny April morning in Kigali City, Pierre Birasa, a Rwandan man in his early 30s walked into an internet cafe to find out if the police had posted the results of his provisional driving tests on their website.
But, Birasa, who had never used a computer in his life, had to seek help from a stranger to access the internet. Although his situation might seem humorous to some, this scene is routinely replicated across the country as many Rwandans attempt to keep up with the frenetic pace at which their country's information technology is developing.
Libraries at telecenters will be equipped with several tablet computers to create an environment for developing digital content and facilitate the access of information.
According to the Minister of Local Government, James Musoni, the computers will help cells address challenges faced in delivering services to the population which include among others, expediting data collection and management.
The computers will also assist in the management of data among beneficiaries of social protection programs including Vision Umurenge Programme (VUP), Fund for the Support of Genocide Survivors (FARG), One Cow per Family, Ubudehe and Mutuelle de Santé.
Read more: RW: Government to Distribute Laptops to All Local Leaders
The smart card - an electronic multi-purpose card meant to connect services including identification, access to insurance and banking services, super-markets, hospitals (e-Health) and medical insurance is likely to be operational in the course of this year.
Pascal Nyamulinda, the coordinator of the National ID project, told The New Times on Sunday that apart from the technical phase of the project, there was also a requisite legal framework.