By Joseph Momoh, Reporter D.S
Freetown July 2026, The Ministry of Health has launched high-speed Starlink satellite internet across 300 government health facilities nationwide, in a major push to digitize Sierra Leone’s healthcare system.
Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, commissioned the service at the Julius Maada Bio Paediatric Centre of Excellence in Lumley, Freetown, on Monday. The rollout targets hospitals, clinics and community health centres with poor or no connectivity.
According to Dr. Demby, the initiative is central to the Ministry’s transition from paper-based patient records to a fully electronic health system. He said reliable internet will enable faster communication among health workers, real-time disease surveillance, electronic reporting, and remote consultations.
“The goal is to get our health workers connected so they can make quicker decisions, access medical resources online, and deliver better care to patients,” Dr. Demby said. “This is about moving from paper to digital, from delays to real-time response.”
Officials noted that the Starlink connection will also support online training for staff, telemedicine services, and emergency response coordination during outbreaks.
Health experts say the project addresses a long-standing barrier in rural facilities where poor internet has slowed data entry, referrals and access to global medical guidelines.
The Ministry expects the expanded connectivity to improve efficiency, data accuracy, and overall service delivery for patients across the country.
_For more information contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com
