Imagine a Zambia where every patient receives timely care, where the lights in our clinics never go out, where a mother can give birth knowing that the incubator will stay on, and where a child’s vaccine remains at the right temperature no matter how hot the day gets. Imagine walking into a health centre in the most remote part of the country and finding your medical records instantly available at the nurse’s fingertips, treatment starting without delay, and medicines always in stock. This is the vision of Zambia’s Smart Health Facilities — and it is about to take its first bold step.

In the coming weeks, the Ministry of Health, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will launch eight model facilities that will show the nation what the future of healthcare looks like. These are not ordinary clinics. They are designed to be hubs of innovation, combining clean solar power, temperature control for medicines and vaccines, clean water, waste management, digital health technology, and services that can withstand the changing climate. They will bring together the best of modern medicine, renewable energy, and innovative digital design solutions to deliver reliable and dignified healthcare, even in the hardest-to-reach areas.

For too long, healthcare in parts of Zambia has been defined by uncertainty. Power cuts disrupt surgeries, vaccine fridges fail, patient records get lost, and essential medicines arrive late or run out entirely. Every disruption means a delay in treatment, a risk to health, or even the loss of life. Smart Health Facilities are being created to change this reality. With solar energy systems, they will keep the lights and equipment running continuously. With digital patient records, doctors and nurses will have the information they need instantly. And with smart supply tracking, medicines will be where they are needed, when they are needed.