NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 2 – Infrastructure gaps, limited connectivity and challenges in implementing telemedicine remain barriers to wider adoption of digital technologies in healthcare across East Africa.
This, even as hospitals and governments expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI), electronic health records and other digital systems.
The challenges are expected to be among the key issues discussed at the World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi, scheduled for September 16–18 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, as healthcare providers, technology companies and policymakers assess the region’s readiness to deploy digital health solutions at scale.
AI-supported diagnostics, telemedicine, electronic health records, hospital management systems and connected medical devices are increasingly being adopted as healthcare systems seek to improve diagnosis, patient management and access to care.
In Kenya, the shift is being supported by the Digital Health Act, 2023, which established the Digital Health Agency and provided a framework for integrated health information systems, digital services and health data governance.
The Ministry of Health is advancing initiatives including a Health Information Exchange, electronic claims processing, the SHA Registration Portal, the AfyaYangu app and digital hospital management systems.
AI-assisted imaging and other digital tools are also being explored to support diagnosis, disease surveillance and community-level healthcare.
Anne Musuva, CEO of the Kenya Healthcare Federation, said the reforms could improve healthcare delivery, particularly outside major urban centers.
“Kenya is undergoing ambitious digital health reforms, creating significant opportunities to improve access, efficiency and quality across our healthcare system,” she said.
“AI-supported diagnostics and telemedicine, in particular, have the potential to extend quality healthcare beyond major urban centers and help build a more equitable health system.”
However, the expansion of digital healthcare is taking place against persistent infrastructure constraints.
The World Health Organization estimates that only about 30 per cent of telemedicine projects in Africa have been implemented, with unreliable electricity, limited access to devices and inadequate broadband among the barriers to wider adoption.
The constraints are also shaping the type of technology healthcare providers need, with systems capable of operating with limited connectivity, supporting offline or asynchronous workflows and integrating with existing health information systems likely to become increasingly important.
Data protection is another concern as hospitals and health authorities collect and exchange growing amounts of patient information. The expansion of digital systems is therefore increasing the need for stronger cybersecurity, interoperability and health-data governance.
The challenge extends beyond Kenya. Ethiopia’s Digital Health Blueprint 2021–2030 prioritizes digital infrastructure, interoperability and the use of data to strengthen healthcare delivery, while other East African countries are also investing in digital health systems.
Investment in the region’s health technology sector has also increased. Briter data shows East African startups attracted about $865 million between January and August 2025, including approximately $150 million in health technology investment.
The WHX Nairobi discussions will come against this backdrop, with more than 5,500 healthcare professionals, suppliers and other industry stakeholders expected to attend the event. More than 200 exhibitors from over 30 countries are expected to participate.
Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director–Healthcare at Informa Markets, said healthcare providers are increasingly assessing digital technologies based on their practical applications.
“Kenya’s healthcare sector is rapidly adopting digital solutions, and September marks a key moment for the market,” Coleman said.
