The Ministry of Health (MoH) has partnered with a consortium led by Safaricom PLC to distribute 70,000 mobile tablets and 5,000 laptops to public healthcare workers across Kenya. This initiative, part of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan, aims to improve healthcare service delivery and modernize the sector through a robust Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS).
In a press release, the Safaricom revealed that the Safaricom-led consortium includes global healthcare digitization firm Apeiro Limited and enterprise technology provider Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited (KNS). The collaboration seeks to equip healthcare workers with digital tools to streamline operations and improve patient care.
“The introduction of these mobile tablets and laptops is a significant step towards enhancing the efficiency of our healthcare workers and ultimately ensuring better health outcomes for all Kenyans,” Peter Ndegwa emphasized in a statement.
The new digital system will integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, enabling healthcare professionals to make data-driven clinical decisions. The system also includes the National Health Information Exchange (HIE), which aims to unify patient records across all levels of care. This will eliminate the issue of fragmented medical histories, thus reducing delays in diagnoses and improving treatment accuracy.
Additionally, the IHTS will support the digitization of the health products supply chain, ensuring real-time visibility of essential medical supplies to prevent stockouts. A health cloud will also be established to securely store patient data, in compliance with Kenya’s data protection regulations.
This healthcare transformation is expected to increase operational efficiency, provide reliable internet connectivity, and reduce medical errors. Furthermore, the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), implemented in collaboration with county governments, will digitize public health facility operations, allowing instant access to patient records.
