Medical treatment in India for patients from Rwanda

Why patients from Rwanda look abroad

• Rwanda Cancer Centre in Kigali is the country's only radiotherapy provider, and capacity is below the IAEA-recommended 4 units per million people. (1 radiotherapy provider) National Cancer Control Plan 2025-2029
• Rwanda has 17 oncologists in total (3 medical oncologists and 14 clinical oncologists). (17 oncologists) National Cancer Control Plan 2025-2029
• PET scans, SPECT imaging, bone scans and radioactive iodine therapy were not yet available in Rwanda when the cancer plan was published, and only 5 facilities had MRI machines. (no PET; 5 MRI sites) National Cancer Control Plan 2025-2029
• Rwanda's health workforce density is 1.2 per 1,000 people against the WHO threshold of 4.45, with a staffing gap of 6,695 posts in public facilities; the plan cites a rising number of patients who must be referred abroad. (1.2 health workers per 1,000) Health Sector Strategic Plan V (2024/25-2028/29)
• Health Minister Yvan Butera told parliament in March 2025 that the dialysis session price had fallen from RWF 150,000 to RWF 45,000-75,000, and that 44 patients had received kidney transplants in Rwanda since the local programme began in 2023. (44 local kidney transplants since 2023; dialysis was RWF 150,000/session) 2025-03-07
• Before local transplants started, Rwandans needing a kidney transplant were sent abroad, the minister citing a cost in India of USD 7,400-14,000 (about RWF 11-20 million) depending on age, blood type and hospital. (USD 7,400-14,000 in India) 2025-03-07
• Kidney transplants were previously done abroad, mainly in India, at about RWF 13 million per patient; hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery referrals abroad cost up to RWF 100 million, before these services started at King Faisal Hospital and Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital (2023). (RWF 13m per transplant abroad; up to RWF 100m for HPB surgery abroad) 2025-05-21
• Rwanda's Ministry of Health reported over 540 cardiac surgeries performed in-country since 2022; previously heart patients faced long waits and travel to India or South Africa. (540+ local cardiac surgeries since 2022) 2025-05-21
• Before King Faisal Hospital began kidney transplants, at least 30-35 Rwandans a year went abroad (mainly India or Egypt) for a transplant costing about USD 15,000-20,000, or USD 25,000-30,000 including travel and stay; the country lost an estimated USD 1 million a year this way. (30-35 patients/yr abroad; USD 25-30k all-in) 2021-05-20

Flights from Rwanda to India

Main airports: Kigali International Airport, Kigali (KGL).

What treatment costs in Rwanda

India medical visa for Rwanda citizens

Indian mission: High Commission of India, Kigali, Kigali — official website.

Sources

• Rwanda Cancer Centre in Kigali is the country's only radiotherapy provider, and
• Rwanda's health workforce density is 1.2 per 1,000 people against the WHO thresh
• Health Minister Yvan Butera told parliament in March 2025 that the dialysis sess
• Kidney transplants were previously done abroad, mainly in India, at about RWF 13
• Before King Faisal Hospital began kidney transplants, at least 30-35 Rwandans a
• Indian e-Visa eligible countries

Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team. Last updated 2026-10-24. General information, not medical advice. Medical editorial board · Editorial policy · How we get prices