NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 22 – Safaricom has announced a Sh104.8 billion investment in Kenya’s healthcare sector with an aim to transform the nation’s health system through technology.
The initiative, guided by the Ministry of Health’s vision for universal quality healthcare, involves an investment over ten years to develop and implement an integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS).
The consortium, which includes Apeiro Limited and Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited, will facilitate the deployment of the IHTS without imposing upfront costs on the government.
Instead, the Ministry will recover the investment through monthly payments starting in February 2025, contingent upon meeting project milestones.
Key components of the IHTS include the implementation of a Health Information Exchange (HIE) to unify patient records and enhance interoperability across health facilities.
It will also support the digitisation of public health facilities through an Integrated Hospital Management Information System (IHMIS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and county governments.
Additionally, the initiative will digitise the supply chain for health products, enabling better tracking of pharmaceuticals and reducing stockouts.
The project will introduce digital health insurance solutions to improve efficiency and transparency in healthcare financing.
“We see technology as a tool for empowerment and transformation. This initiative represents a significant step in advancing our ambitions as a purpose-led technology company,” said its CEO Peter Ndegwa.
A robust digital health infrastructure will be established, including a Kenyan-hosted health cloud, specialised devices for healthcare professionals, and reliable power sources to ensure technology.
The telco says the initiative builds on Safaricom’s previous successes in digitizing services, such as the Hustler Fund and the Inua Jamii program, demonstrating its commitment to using technology for societal transformation.
