In a bold move towards a connected, efficient healthcare system, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale delivered over 1,100 digital devices to Nakuru County to support the Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform.
The new system is part of the country’s broader digital health transformation agenda, aimed at providing citizens more control over their medical records.
With HIE, according to the Ministry, patients will be able to access, manage, and transfer their health data easily regardless of which facility they visit.
While addressing healthcare workers in Nakuru on Tuesday, CS Duale emphasized that the rollout is not just about digitizing systems it’s about putting the patient first.
“This platform will ensure Kenyans have ownership of their data. It’s a game changer in how we deliver care especially through community health promoters,” he said.
So far, 3,306 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) have been trained and equipped, forming a crucial part of the Ministry’s Taifa Care initiative, which is rooted in people-centred healthcare.
CS Duale also issued a firm reminder to health professionals to uphold integrity and accountability in the digital era.
He warned that the Ministry will intensify efforts to crack down on unlicensed practitioners and flagged the illegal sharing of preauthorization codes as a breach of professional ethics.
“To deliver quality care, we must start by regulating ourselves,” he added, noting that the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) would continue playing a strong oversight role.
On the financing front, Duale stressed the importance of keeping facility data especially bed capacity up to date. He said this will ensure Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements reflect the true capacity of each hospital, helping avoid delays or disruptions in services.
He commended Nakuru for leading by example, with over 840,000 residents now registered under SHA. He urged all counties to match that commitment, especially by ensuring every health worker is onboarded into the system.
“This isn’t just a Ministry programme it’s a national movement to make universal health coverage real for every Kenyan,” Duale said.
The rollout in Nakuru is one of several steps Kenya is taking to fully digitize its health sector, with the goal of improving transparency, efficiency, and access to care across all levels from local clinics to national referral hospitals.
