Burkina Faso Strengthens Health System with Landmark AI Partnership
The agreement between the two ministries is part of a broader national strategy to expand AI applications across different sectors.
The Ministry of Digital Transition, Postal and Electronic Communications and the Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso have signed a landmark partnership agreement to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the health sector. The agreement, signed on October 29, 2025, by Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, and Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Minister of Health, represents a decisive step toward integrating cutting-edge digital technologies into public health management and service delivery.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Aminata Zerbo/Sabane highlighted the Burkinabe government’s commitment to harnessing AI’s transformative potential across all sectors. She emphasized that this collaboration reflects the government’s strategic and pragmatic choice to accelerate digital integration in national institutions, businesses, and public services. The minister underlined that AI can greatly enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and expand access to essential services, provided it is used ethically and responsibly. She also stressed the need for citizen awareness and education to ensure the technology’s adoption benefits society while minimizing risks.
Focusing on the health sector, Dr. Zerbo/Sabane cited international examples where AI has been successfully applied to improve diagnostics, optimize hospital management, and strengthen disease surveillance systems. She noted that such experiences reinforce the relevance of introducing AI into Burkina Faso’s health system, paving the way for innovations tailored to local challenges. The minister expressed confidence that the new partnership would enhance collaboration between the two ministries and lead to practical, impactful outcomes that benefit citizens.
Minister of Health Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou welcomed the agreement as a natural extension of existing cooperation between the two ministries. He described the initiative as a critical milestone in modernizing Burkina Faso’s healthcare system through technology. Dr. Kargougou also announced plans to establish a Health Intelligence Centre, which will be developed in close coordination with the Ministry of Digital Transition. This center will serve as a hub for data-driven innovation, AI-assisted research, and digital health management, contributing to more effective healthcare delivery and informed policymaking.
The agreement between the two ministries is part of a broader national strategy to expand AI applications across different sectors. It follows similar collaborations previously signed by the Ministry of Digital Transition with the National Meteorology Agency (ANAM) and Burkina Radio-Télévision (RTB). Through these partnerships, the government seeks to strengthen the synergy between digital transformation and public development goals, positioning Burkina Faso as a regional leader in responsible and inclusive digital innovation.
