Solar-Powered Telemedicine Kiosks Bring Remote Healthcare to Rural Chad

Bitkine, Chad – For Ache Kodo, accessing medical care once required saving money for the journey. Living in Bitkine, a remote community in central Chad, she previously faced costs for transportation, consultations, and lodging in larger towns for medical visits. Now, she can consult doctors remotely via a Telemedan kiosk closer to home.

“Telemedan transformed how my family accesses healthcare,” Ache told Al Jazeera. “Before, I had to save money to travel just to see a doctor. Now, I receive care on time with fewer expenses. It has also improved my economic situation.”

For rural Chad’s populations, distance often compounds healthcare shortages. Medical services and specialists are concentrated in urban centers, leaving remote communities underserved. Abakar Mahamat, who grew up in such an environment, recognized this gap firsthand.

“The challenge wasn’t just the lack of doctors,” Mahamat explained. “It was also the vast distance separating them from the communities needing care.” In 2021, he launched Telemedan, a telemedicine initiative designed to connect remote communities with healthcare providers despite unreliable electricity, limited internet, and underdeveloped medical infrastructure.

A Clinic Powered by the Sun

Equipped with solar panels and battery storage, the kiosks operate independently of Chad’s unreliable grid. Local operators register patients and conduct basic health assessments using tools such as blood-pressure monitors, glucometers, thermometers, pulse oximeters, and electrocardiogram machines. A remote doctor appears on screen, guiding the operation and consultation.

Some kiosks are enhanced with diagnostic equipment like stethoscopes, temperature sensors, and ultrasound devices. The system is designed to function in low-connectivity scenarios, storing patient data locally and synchronizing it when networks are available. A USSD service enables non-internet users to book appointments and access health information via basic mobile phones.

Kiosks connect via mobile networks or satellite links depending on location. “We aim to ensure reliable electricity or internet availability doesn’t dictate healthcare access,” Mahamat emphasized.

The High Cost of Traveling for Care

Medical journeys in Chad can cost up to $200 when accounting for transport, lodging, and consultations. Telemedan consultations range from $2 to $15, making care more affordable. “Families shouldn’t choose between healthcare and feeding their children,” Mahamat noted.

Scaling the Network

Initially a pilot, Telemedan now operates 37 kiosks across 11 provinces, serving an estimated 143,000 people. The initiative integrates AI tools to screen for diabetic retinopathy, supporting rather than replacing healthcare professionals.

Limitations exist: kiosks cannot provide emergency care or specialized treatments. Patients requiring advanced care must still reach higher-level facilities. “This is a bridge, not a replacement,” Mahamat stated.

Ensuring Sustainability

As Chad develops a national digital health strategy, the government recognizes telemedicine’s potential. “Solutions like solar-powered kiosks expand access to underserved populations,” said Youssouf Silay, an assistant to the National Digital Health Programme coordinator.

Each kiosk costs approximately $10,000 and is sold to governments or health organizations, avoiding direct patient infrastructure fees. Telemedan aims to reach one million people across sub-Saharan Africa. While not a substitute for hospitals, these kiosks significantly reduce barriers to care.

Challenges remain: maintaining equipment, ensuring consistent connectivity, training operators, and linking kiosks to broader health systems. Mahamat envisions Telemedan as a sustainable healthcare infrastructure layer, not merely a temporary project.

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