Rwanda Moves to Expand Specialist Care as Shortage of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Persists
Rwanda’s healthcare system continues to make significant progress in improving access to quality medical services, but a shortage of specialists in obstetrics and gynecology remains a major challenge.
Health professionals say increasing the number of specialists is critical to sustaining gains in maternal health, expanding reproductive health services and ensuring that women receive timely and specialized care across the country.
The issue was highlighted during the annual conference of the Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RSOG), which brought together specialists and other health professionals to discuss progress, challenges and priorities in women’s healthcare.
The conference emphasized the important role played by obstetricians and gynecologists in reducing maternal deaths, preventing and treating diseases affecting women, supporting safe childbirth and promoting reproductive health and family planning.
Dr. Victor Mivumbi, President of RSOG, said the society’s contribution goes beyond providing medical services, noting that it is also involved in training, research, advocacy and public awareness.
He said the organization is particularly concerned about teenage pregnancies, which remain an important health and social challenge, and is working with the Ministry of Health to identify effective solutions.
Despite improvements in maternal and reproductive healthcare, patients say the shortage of specialists continues to affect access to services.
Uwiringiyimana Parfaite said many women now receive medical care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, but long waiting times remain a challenge in some health facilities because of the limited number of specialists.
She called for more obstetricians and gynecologists to be trained and deployed across the country so that women can receive timely care without spending long hours waiting for consultations.
Ruyange Tharcisse, a health professional at La Croix du Sud Hospital, said the shortage also puts considerable pressure on existing specialists. He noted that some doctors are responsible for extremely large numbers of patients, creating heavy workloads that can contribute to professional fatigue and encourage some specialists to move into private practice or other sectors.
Rwanda currently has more than 130 obstetricians and gynecologists, but health authorities acknowledge that the number remains insufficient compared with the needs of the growing population.
Jean Marie Vianney Ndayizigiye, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, said the government is already implementing measures to address the shortage.
He pointed to the Ministry’s 4×4 health workforce programme, which seeks to significantly increase the number of healthcare professionals trained and available to serve the population, including specialists in obstetrics and gynecology.
The programme has also increased opportunities for training medical specialists, midwives and nurses. Whereas fewer than five specialists in some of these fields were previously graduating annually, the target is now to have at least 40 graduates each year in relevant specialist programmes.
Health authorities are also exploring the use of technology to extend specialist services beyond major cities.
Ndayizigiye said telemedicine could allow a specialist based in Kigali to work with a healthcare professional in a district such as Nyamasheke to assess a patient, provide medical guidance and support treatment without requiring either the patient or specialist to travel long distances.
The system is still being refined, but officials expect it could eventually be expanded nationwide and help bridge geographical gaps in access to specialist healthcare.
The efforts come as Rwanda continues to work toward reducing maternal mortality. The 2025 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS-7) reported that maternal mortality had declined to 149 deaths per 100,000 live births, down from 203 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
Rwanda has set a national target of reducing maternal mortality to at least 126 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, while ultimately aspiring to reach much lower levels.
Health experts say achieving these targets will require continued investment in specialist training, stronger referral systems, wider access to emergency obstetric care and greater use of technology, alongside sustained efforts to ensure that every woman can access timely, safe and quality healthcare regardless of where she lives.
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