Kigali, Rwanda – February 03, 2026

Hippo Technologies today announced the launch of a groundbreaking national Virtual Maternal Health program in partnership with the Rwanda Ministry of Health, marking a major step forward in the country’s efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality and expand access to specialized care across rural districts

The program is being deployed through the Ministry’s newly established Health Intelligence Center, a state-of-the-art national facility staffed by specialist physicians, data scientists, and public health experts. The Health Intelligence Center is responsible for improving care quality nationwide by strengthening clinical oversight, monitoring system performance, and responding rapidly to emerging health threats.

At the heart of this collaboration is Rwanda’s first “virtual hospital,” a centralized hub in Kigali where medical specialists can consult with, support, and treat patients remotely in real time. With Hippo Virtual Care, specialists can provide direct clinical guidance to caregivers in hospitals and clinics across the country without needing to be physically present.

As part of this national initiative, Hippo Technologies is implementing the Virtual Maternal Health program across 10 regional hospitals, with funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal is to expand access to experienced OB/GYN specialists and improve outcomes during high-risk pregnancies and complicated deliveries, including C-sections, postpartum hemorrhage, and failure-to-progress cases.

Many of Rwanda’s regional hospitals are staffed by hospitalists, general surgeons, midwives, and nurses but lack on-site obstetric specialists. Using Hippo Virtual Care’s augmented-reality headsets and its unique Coactive Care delivery model, frontline caregivers who are physically with patients can connect with remote OB/GYN specialists who can “see what they see” in real time. This capability enables specialists to guide examinations, procedures, and critical decision-making as if they were physically in the room.

“This program represents what healthcare transformation should look like – using technology not to replace caregivers, but to amplify their capabilities and ensure that no woman faces childbirth without access to specialist support,” said Dr. Patrick Quinlan, CEO and Co-Founder of Hippo Technologies. “Rwanda is showing the world what proactive, equitable, team-based care can achieve.”

Early reports from the Ministry highlight the program’s impact. According to Dr. Muhammed Semakula, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, “Pregnant women most at risk are enrolled in the system, enabling doctors at the national level to monitor their cases and guide local health workers in providing care. These efforts are already making a difference.”

The launch comes as global attention focuses on the widening gap in maternal care access – particularly in rural regions. A recent US study found that maternity units in rural hospitals have closed at an alarming rate, leaving millions without timely OB/GYN access. Hippo’s work in Rwanda underscores how virtual specialist models can bridge these gaps and prevent avoidable maternal morbidity and mortality.

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About Hippo Technologies, Inc.

Hippo Technologies, Inc., is a global virtual care company servicing the healthcare and medical education industries. The next-generation Hippo Virtual Care™ platform combines the most advanced voice-activated, Assisted Reality headsets and clinical-grade software allowing clinicians to collaborate remotely in real time to deliver patient care or train healthcare professionals. In addition to supporting the delivery of specialist care in the field, Hippo can integrate seamlessly with hospital systems and connected devices for a multitude of use cases in the hospital ER, OR, ICU, inpatient units, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, and in the home. Hippo’s solution effectively overcomes the barriers of time, distance and training to deliver specialist care wherever the patient is located. For further information, visit: https://myhippo.life

Media Contact:

Lee Phillips

lee@myhippo.life