The potential of digital technologies to transform health systems is no longer in question. Diverse programmes ranging from health promotion and disease prevention to initiatives aimed at enhancing access, quality, and affordability of services can all significantly benefit from digital technology, which can help improve their reach, effectiveness and impact. The Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 highlights a growing consensus and commitment that the strategic and innovative use of digital technologies will be crucial to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). 

The government of Kenya has been prioritising this through the progressive digitalisation of their systems and services to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in delivery of its distinct mandates. These efforts are evident in the bold and steady steps to revamp the healthcare system through the introduction of digital tools to achieve UHC. The Kenyan government has enacted four pivotal laws aimed at accelerating the realisation of health for all. These include the Primary Health Care Act, the Facilities Improvement Financing Act, the Social Health Insurance Act, and the Digital Health Act. These laws have significantly transformed the institutional framework of Kenya’s health system. 

 

Establishing the foundations to drive Kenya’s digital health transformation

Enacted in October 2023, the Digital Health Act (DHA) is considered a game changer among the efforts to accelerate Kenya’s journey towards health equity and UHC. Prior to its enactment, the country’s approach to digital health was disjointed and lacked a cohesive regulatory framework. For instance, while the Health Act No. 21 of 2017 recognised e-health as a mode of health service, the Ministry of Health launched various digital health initiatives without a unified system for managing health data. This resulted in inconsistencies in data governance, privacy, and security across different regions and institutions. The absence of a centralised agency to oversee digital health efforts led to uncoordinated and siloed activities. This fragmented landscape underscored the urgent need for a robust framework to streamline the delivery of digital health services and ensure the protection of personal health information. 

The enactment of the DHA has provided momentum in Kenya’s journey towards achieving UHC. The Act has established the Digital Health Agency responsible for overseeing the provision of digital health services. The agency ensures secure and efficient transfer of personal health data and is mandated to develop a comprehensive and integrated digital health information system that enhances healthcare delivery and improves patient outcomes. It is also mandated to establish the Digital Superhighway aimed at interconnecting health facilities across Kenya with leading digital public infrastructure. Kenya has taken substantive steps to operationalise the Digital Health Agency since the passing of the act in 2023. 

Kenya has also seen growing discussions on harnessing digital health technologies, with several forums exploring the intersection of health and technology. These convenings aim to bring together stakeholders to align efforts, tackle challenges in digital health, and strategise on advancing national ambitions, including those set out in the Act. Some key events include: 

 

Transform Health Kenya: A Strategic Partner in Advancing Digital Health

Transform Health Kenya – a coalition bringing together diverse organisations and institutions working on health and human rights in Kenya – is a key partner of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and played an important role in the drafting of the DHA. This included technical support in documenting and reviewing the Act during its development, and developing the Telemedicine Standards, the Kenya Health Data Governance Framework and accompanying regulations. 

The coalition also convened drafting and review sessions and enabled participation of diverse groups in the process, including the civil society, communities, researchers, academia, private health service providers and patient groups. During the drafting, the coalition conducted webinars and published articles to sensitise the public on the contents of the Act and facilitated meaningful public participation that included the submission of a memorandum to parliament. 

 

Looking ahead: Continued collaboration to build a sustainable digital health ecosystem in Kenya 

While these developments promise to power Kenya’s pursuit of UHC, the government, private sector and civil society must remain focused and address the key barriers to equitable access to digital health, to ensure the Act fulfills its ambition to deliver health for all. Transform Health Kenya has documented these in an extensive landscape analysis, including:

Governments must be in the driving seat to help achieve the digital transformation of health in Kenya. Transform Health Kenya remains committed to continue working with the Ministry of Health, ensuring meaningful representation of diverse voices from civil society, community members and other key stakeholders, to support the implementation of the Digital Health Act, and to address these barriers. Together we can further Kenya’s progress towards its ambition of achieving UHC.