Kigali — In line with the country's goal of promoting the use of ICT in all institutions, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is set to roll out, state-of-the-art software systems in all hospitals next year.

This was revealed by the Ministry's e- Health Coordinator, Richard Gakuba, in an interview with The New Times. He said the new system will be a solution to most problems that hospitals still face with regard to efficiency in service provision and boosting quality care.

"A new software system called Jeeva has already been introduced in King Faisal Hospital (KFH) and installation will soon be completed.

So far, it has enabled patients to register and consult health workers in the shortest time possible and improved general hospital management."

"Many other hospitals are still losing big sums of money as a result of inaccurate financial management but soon, this will be history. Proper management of patients' flow in hospitals as well as stock management will be guaranteed with new software systems," Gakuba explained.

KFH Jeeva software installations alone are worth Rwf789.2 million (US $1.4 million) but further roll out will cost a lot more that is yet to be calculated.

According to Gakuba, a decision as to what type of software to choose is yet to be decided, but once Jeeva proves to be successful in KFH then it could be used.

"Quality technology systems such as these will also enable health facilities to exchange data as well," he added.

Yvonne Collins, the Information Technology Systems' expert at KFH recently attested that long queues at the hospital are no more and that new patients now take only 5 minutes to register while old ones take 3 unlike the initial time of about 15 minutes.

Tanzania's Muhimbiri hospital, a leading referral hospital in the region, is one of those that have successfully benefited from the Jeeva software.