Telemedicine expands specialist care at Carnot Hospital in Central African Republic

In the Central African Republic, where there were only seven doctors per 100,000 people in 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has introduced a telemedicine system at the remote Carnot Hospital. The platform uses a secure mobile app that works on slow internet connections, allowing clinicians to send X‑rays, test results and other patient data to a global network of specialists. Experts—including doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and psychologists—provide advice in fields such as emergency medicine, infectious disease, paediatrics, surgery and mental health.

MSF Director of the Telemedicine Programme, Clara Mazon, notes that most consultants are MSF volunteers, and when needed, external experts are recruited. The system’s responsiveness is high: 75 % of cases receive a first response within 24 hours and nearly half are answered in under eight hours. Front‑line doctors like Dr Kana Yamada say the remote input helps them make life‑saving decisions when resources are limited.