The Kenyan Ministry of Health (MoH) has awarded a KSh 104.8 billion contract to a consortium led by Safaricom PLC for the implementation of an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS).
According to MoH, the project is part of ambitious plan to digitize the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and a significant step toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
The consortium includes Safaricom, global healthcare digitization firm Apeiro Digital and enterprise technology provider Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited (KNS). Together, they are tasked with transforming Kenya’s healthcare system into a fully integrated, digital platform to improve patient care, streamline healthcare operations, and strengthen the supply chain for medical products.
Harry Kimtai, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health’s Department of Medical Services said that digital transformation is the core to government commitment to achieving universal health coverage, that will ensure that every Kenyan access quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay, location, or economic status.
“The government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health, is making a concerted effort to transform the country’s healthcare system,” PS Kimtai said adding that, “IHTS is not just a project; but a national mission to save lives.”
According to Kimtai, one of the primary components of IHTS contract will be the National Health Information Exchange (HIE), which will unify patient records across all healthcare facilities, making it easier for doctors to access comprehensive patient histories.
He highlighted that this will eliminate the current fragmentation where patient data is scattered across various facilities, which often leads to delays in treatment and misdiagnoses.
Additionally, he said that the consortium will implement a Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) across all public health facilities, which will digitize operations and allow healthcare professionals to access patient records instantly under a consent management framework. This system is expected to enable more accurate clinical decision-making and tailored patient care.
The contract also includes an ambitious infrastructure rollout, with 70,000 mobile tablets, 5,000 laptops, reliable internet connectivity, and power backup systems being provided to the public healthcare workforce nationwide. A locally hosted health cloud will be established to securely store patient data, in compliance with Kenyan data protection laws.
In a further push toward technological advancement, the contract includes the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) tools to assist in proactive health management and clinical decision-making.
Another key element of the project is the digitization of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) supply chain. The system will provide real-time visibility into the movement of medical products across the country, ensuring that hospitals are well-stocked with essential medicines and supplies. This move is expected to drastically reduce stockouts and prevent unnecessary deaths caused by a lack of critical medicines.
“We are digitizing KEMSA’s entire supply chain, which will provide real-time visibility of inventory levels across the country,” added Kimtai. “This will ensure proper distribution of medical supplies and prevent counterfeit drugs from infiltrating the supply chain—an issue that has claimed lives in the past.”
The contract also includes a Health Insurance Platform (HIP) to improve the efficiency of healthcare payments, enabling real-time authentication of insurance claims, fraud prevention, and the automation of processes under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He said that Kenya will adopt Global Health Interoperability Standards, including the HL7 FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) protocol.
“The HL7 standard will allow seamless data exchange across various healthcare systems, ensuring interoperability at the national level and improving healthcare efficiency.”
MoH digitization efforts if fully implemented will be a major step as part of Kenya’s healthcare reform to achieve UHC, signaling a commitment to technological innovation, better health outcomes, and accessibility for all citizens.
