Optimizing healthcare facility distribution in Rwanda: a data-driven approach

Abstract Access to healthcare is a fundamental right, yet disparities in healthcare facility distribution persist across sub-Saharan Africa. Rwanda serves as a compelling case study where the current resource allocation strategy uses population distribution density over actual healthcare needs, often leading to inefficiencies in service delivery. This imbalance can worsen healthcare disparities, especially in areas where the demand for medical services far exceeds the available resources. This research examines the alignment between healthcare facility distribution, disease prevalence trends, focusing on Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB), and HIV which are the top leading causes of mortality in Rwanda. By analyzing these healthcare data, this study evaluates whether the current healthcare infrastructure distribution strategy effectively meets regional and district-level demands. Additionally, it proposes a new model to optimize resource allocation and improve healthcare accessibility. To achieve this, we use a data-driven approach combining geospatial analysis, machine learning, and national health survey data. Geospatial analysis enables us to visualize and quantify disparities in healthcare accessibility, while machine learning techniques help identify patterns and correlations between disease prevalence, population distribution, and healthcare facility locations. By integrating these datasets, our model assesses the efficiency of the current allocation strategy and proposes an optimized distribution framework that better aligns healthcare facilities with regional health burdens. Our findings suggest that a more balanced distribution of healthcare facilities guided by real-time data rather than static population figures, could lead to improved health outcomes, reduced travel distances for patients, and a more efficient healthcare system overall. By providing a model that is adaptable and scalable, our research offers a framework that can be applied beyond Rwanda to other nations. Key messages • Access to healthcare is a fundamental right, yet disparities in healthcare facility distribution persist across developing nations. • A more balanced distribution of healthcare facilities guided by real-time data, could lead to improved health outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system overall.