• Government aims to embed AI in public health as part of digital transformation

• Pilot project launched in two hospitals, tied to broader national digital strategy

• Strategy targets improved care, accessibility, and health system governance

The Madagascar authorities have pressed ahead with digitizing their healthcare system, following the launch of a project in March to digitalize hospitals. The scheme first targets two university medical centers for this transformation.

Madagascar's government is keen on embedding AI into public healthcare, a move that is part of their wider ambition to digitize national medical facilities. Details of how this is to be done have not been provided, but the concept was discussed on May 30 during a meeting dedicated to the revision of 2025's annual budgeted work plan (PTBA) for the digital governance and Malagasy identity management project (PRODIGY). Attendees leveraged the meeting to discuss other digital transformation areas, including digitizing the judicial system and land procedures, as well as embedding AI into education.

Last March saw the official launch of a project to digitize hospitals led by both the ministry of public health and the ministry of digital development, postal and telecommunication services. The Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital Center (CHU HJRA) and the Analakely public health care and service University Hospital Center (CHU SSPA) were selected as pioneer hospitals. The initiative aims to establish good governance and transparency in public hospitals while bringing health services closer to the public.

According to the Digital Health National Strategy 2023–2027, the Madagascan government wants to use digital health as a catalyst to ensure quality care across patient care, continuity of care, surveillance, training, information sharing, exchange facilitation, and data management. They hope this strategy will reduce morbidity and deaths from diseases and unfavorable health events, contributing to the country's overall better health.

This vision aligns with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). A study they published in 2022 highlighted that digital health might present an opportunity for the development of African health systems due to the increase in mobile phone penetration rates and their associated uses. The UN agency believes that digitization will extend universal health coverage by reducing obstacles like cost, difficult access, and subpar care. It will also diversify services, particularly in areas where medical facilities and staff are scarce or non-existent.

Madagascar's health system confronts several significant challenges, according to official sources. These include geographic remoteness, difficulty in reaching certain communities, a lack of human, material, and financial resources, substandard care despite training efforts, and poor data quality obstructing swift and informed decision-making. While the integration of systems can help alleviate some of these issues, it’s crucial to note that digitization must extend to all country's health facilities. This calls for reliable internet access, suitable digital equipment availability, and the enhancement of digital skills among health workers.