Kigali, 24 March 2025 – The inaugural Advancing Medical Education in Africa Conference (MedEdAfrica2025) has officially opened in Kigali, bringing together over 600 medical educators, students, healthcare leaders, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond.

Under the theme "Innovation in Medical Education Practices," the conference provides a platform to rethink medical education and shape the future of healthcare on the continent.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, acknowledged the progress made in medical education reforms but emphasized the need for accelerated expansion.

“We have made significant strides as educators, researchers, and policymakers in prioritizing health education. New medical schools, departments, and fellowship programs have been established, but progress is not moving as fast as we envisioned,” said Dr. Nsanzimana.

The Minister stressed the importance of harmonizing academic programs, aligning training with community health needs, and integrating hospitals as primary learning sites to build a more responsive and effective healthcare system.

“Why don't we teach from the hospital and make it a teaching site? Let's not have academic doctors and clinical doctors. Let's transform our hospitals into classrooms, and have a doctor who can do academic work and clinical work. At the end of the day, medical students should spend most of their time in hospitals,” he noted.

Dr. Nsanzimana also highlighted the role of emerging technologies in enhancing the quality of medical education.

“We must embrace these technologies rather than resist them. Technology is not replacing healthcare professionals, but it is shifting how we work. We must integrate these advancements into medical education,” he added.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa carries 25% of the global disease burden but has only 3% of the world’s healthcare workforce. By 2030, the continent will need an additional six million health workers to meet growing demands. 

A key highlight of the two-day conference, organized in partnership with the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), will be the launch of Africa’s first Consortium of Medical Schools—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and driving long-term improvements in medical education.

Learn more about MedEdAfrica2025 here