By Suleiman Mbatiah
The government has launched a digital health system to digitize healthcare and empower Kenyans with ownership of their health data.
During the launch in Nakuru County, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the move would strengthen Kenya’s public health system.
The Cabinet Secretary delivered 1,140 devices to support the Health Information Exchange (HIE).
Additionally, 3,306 trained and equipped Community Health Promoters under the Taifa Care model were deployed to oversee the initiative.
“I urged healthcare workers to uphold integrity and transparency and reaffirmed our commitment to quality, regulated care for all,” he stated.
The Cabinet Secretary also warned against malpractice in the digital era, including the misuse of preauthorization codes and unregistered practitioners.
He emphasized that enforcing the bed capacity rule remains key to aligning Social Health Authority reimbursements with actual facility data.
Duale commended Nakuru County for surpassing 840,000 Social Health Authority registrations and urged full onboarding of all health workers to sustain progress toward Universal Health Coverage.
He further reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strict pharmaceutical regulation, stating that only licensed pharmacies and professionals would be allowed to dispense medication.
Cabinet Secretary Duale announced plans to upgrade the Nakuru Regional Cancer Centre into a major referral facility serving 24 counties.
“This move is aimed at advancing access to cancer care in underserved regions under the Taifa Care model,” he stated.
The upgrade, part of the National Equipment Services Programme (NESP), will provide cutting-edge medical equipment to key health facilities across the county.
This includes CT scanners in Molo and Bahati, dialysis and mammography units at Nakuru County Referral Hospital, and advanced laboratories, X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment, and operating theatres in sub-county hospitals.