The government has stepped up efforts to digitize health services as part of the wider rollout of Taifa Care, with over 3,386 public facilities already connected to the Digital Health Agency’s system.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the digitization drive will help track patient records, improve accountability, and ease communication between hospitals.
The target is to cover 6,500 facilities nationwide, making it one of the largest healthcare digital transformations in the region.
Faith-based hospitals are also set to benefit. The Ministry of Health recently distributed 100 digital devices to mission facilities and trained staff on how to use the system, a move that faith leaders welcomed as a step towards modernizing service delivery.
“Digitization is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity,” said Rev. Dr. Robert Langat of the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS). “With digital records, patients don’t have to repeat tests unnecessarily, and hospitals can better manage supplies and claims.”
The Ministry further urged faith-based organizations to submit a list of needy remote facilities that require digital devices. This is expected to help smaller hospitals in marginalized areas get connected to the national system.
Beyond technology, the Social Health Authority will assign relationship managers to hospitals to handle queries and claims, with a promise to process payments within 90 days.
In a unique twist, religious institutions will also use their networks — churches and mosques — to set up registration desks for Taifa Care and to sensitize worshippers on the benefits of health insurance.
“This is where faith meets technology,” said Duale. “When Kenyans can register for health cover at their church or mosque, while hospitals go digital, access to care becomes easier for everyone.”
