Solar-powered health kiosks bridge healthcare gap in rural Chad

In Bitkine, central Chad, seeing a doctor used to be a major financial burden for Ache Kodo. She had to save money for travel, consultations, and other expenses when journeying to a larger town. Now, she can consult a doctor remotely through a Telemedan kiosk located near her home.

“Telemedan has changed how my family accesses healthcare,” Ache told Al Jazeera. “Before, it was very difficult; I had to set aside money to see a doctor. Now I can do it just in time, at a lower cost, right where I live. This has also improved my financial situation.”

For rural Chadians, geographic distance is as much a barrier to healthcare as the shortage of doctors. Health facilities and specialists are concentrated mainly in major cities, leaving many remote communities without access to basic services.

Abakar Mahamat, who grew up in such circumstances, noted: “The problem isn’t just a lack of doctors; it’s also the distance between doctors and the communities that need them.” In 2021, he launched Telemedan, a telemedicine initiative aimed at bringing medical services closer to areas lacking electricity, internet, and health infrastructure.

Solar-powered clinics

Telemedan kiosks run on solar panels and batteries, independent of the national power grid. A local staff member registers patients and performs basic measurements such as blood pressure, blood sugar, temperature, blood oxygen levels, and electrocardiograms. A doctor connects remotely via screen, while the staff member facilitates the examination.

According to Telemedan, kiosks can be equipped with stethoscopes, temperature sensors, and sometimes ultrasound machines. The system is designed for areas with unstable internet connections, allowing local data storage and synchronization when connectivity resumes. Additionally, an USSD service enables those without internet to book appointments and access health information.

“We want to show that a lack of electricity or stable internet doesn’t have to mean a lack of healthcare,” Abakar said.

The cost of visiting a doctor

Abakar said some trips for healthcare can cost from $200 or more when including travel, accommodation, and treatment. In contrast, a remote consultation via Telemedan costs between $2 and $15, depending on the service.

“Patients shouldn’t have to choose between seeing a doctor and feeding their families,” Abakar shared.

From pilot to widespread network

Telemedan started as a pilot project and has expanded thanks to grants and institutional partnerships, including with Chad’s Ministry of Public Health and Disease Prevention. To date, the project operates 37 kiosks across 11 provinces, serving an estimated 143,000 people.

Telemedan has also begun using artificial intelligence (AI) to support screening for diabetic retinopathy—a complication of diabetes that can affect vision. However, the project emphasizes that the technology aids health workers rather than replacing them.

Still, remote consultations have limitations. Kiosks cannot handle emergencies or perform all types of examinations. Patients needing specialized care, tests, medications, or inpatient treatment must still go to higher-level health facilities.

Are kiosks sustainable?

Telemedan’s expansion coincides with Chad’s developing digital health system. Youssouf Silay, assistant coordinator of Chad’s National Digital Health Program, said the National Health Development Plan 2022–2030 identifies digital health as a path to expand access to care. The country established the National Telemedicine Program in 2021 and launched the National Digital Health Program in 2023. The Ministry of Health is also developing a legal framework for digital health services.

“The goal is to promote innovative solutions that can improve access to healthcare, especially in areas lacking health infrastructure and energy. Solutions like solar-powered telemedicine kiosks can contribute to this effort by bringing health services closer to underserved populations,” Youssouf said.

But placing a kiosk in a village is only the beginning. Equipment must work reliably, connectivity must be available, local staff need training, doctors must be available when patients need them, and those requiring care beyond the kiosk’s capability must have a path to higher-level facilities.

Each kiosk costs about $10,000, according to Abakar. Telemedan sells the devices to governments, public health programs, and partner organizations, which then operate them. This model ensures patients do not bear the infrastructure costs.

Telemedan aims to serve one million people in rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa. A solar-powered kiosk cannot replace a hospital or a doctor in every case, but it can shorten the distance between patients and the health system.

“We want Telemedan to become a sustainable layer of health infrastructure, not just a collection of tech projects,” Abakar told Al Jazeera.