The consortium includes global patient care digitization firm Apeiro Limited (Apeiro Digital), and Enterprise technology firm Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited (KNS).
The Ministry of Health on Friday, September 21 released details of a contract worth Ksh104.8 billion that it awarded to a consortium for the implementation of a new system it argues will support the implementation of the blueprint of Univeral Health Coverage (UHC).
In a statement, the Ministry through Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, affirmed that it is making a concerted effort to transform the country’s healthcare system, terming its commitment to UHC whereby every Kenyan gets access to quality healthcare regardless of location or economic status, as the core of the transformation.
The contract awarded to the consortium led by Safaricom PLC will be for implementing an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS System). This will enable the secure flow of data to where they can be used, to provide information to strengthen integrated care delivery, enable public health monitoring and management, and foster medical and health research and innovation.
The Ministry added that the consortium includes global patient care digitization firm Apeiro Limited (Apeiro Digital), and Enterprise technology firm Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited (KNS).
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai, during an address on September 18, 2024. /HARRY KIMTAI
“It is noteworthy that Safaricom Consortium will invest the full project cost and recover their investment over ten years by payment of monthly instalments (the instalment payments will commence from February 2025) based on the successful implementation of the project. The structure of the project will enable the Ministry to roll out the IHTS System without incurring any upfront Capital Expenditure (Capex) and Operating Expenditure (Opex),” the statement revealed in part.
“The investment cost (Kshs.104,808,136,478) is a bold step towards building a comprehensive healthcare infrastructure that will touch the lives of all Kenyans.”
According to the Ministry, the IHTS System covers a wide range of components, from infrastructure to technology to training of public healthcare professionals and system maintenance, and is aimed at providing long-term benefits to every Kenyan.
Among those components include the National Health Information Exchange (HIE) which will unify patient records across all levels of care. “For too long, our healthcare system has been fragmented, with patient histories scattered across different facilities. This has led to delays in diagnosis, inappropriate treatments, and even the denial of life-saving care,” the statement explains.
Another component is the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) for all Public Health Facilities. The HMIS will be deployed in partnership with the County Governments and will digitise the operations of all public health facilities allowing doctors and healthcare professionals to access (under consent management) patient records instantly, make informed clinical decisions, and provide care that is tailored to each patient’s needs.
Also included is Health Technology Infrastructure which will ensure that every healthcare worker has the tools they need to serve Kenyans effectively.
The Consortium, under the contract, is expected to deliver 70,000 mobile tablets and 5,000 laptops for the public healthcare workforce; reliable internet connectivity and power backup systems countrywide, a locally hosted health cloud to securely store and manage patient data in line with all applicable Kenyan data protection laws; and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning tools to support proactive health management and clinical decisions.
Another component included is the health products supply chain management system. Under this, the digitizing health products supply chain will facilitate visibility of the movement of pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical products across the healthcare system, ensuring that hospitals are stocked with the medicines and supplies they need.
“Under this transformation, we are digitizing KEMSA’s entire supply chain, which will provide real-time visibility of inventory levels across the country. This will drastically reduce stockouts, ensure proper distribution of medical supplies, and prevent unnecessary deaths caused by a lack of essential medicines.
“Moreover, the introduction of traceability measures will ensure that only genuine medicines reach patients. By using globally recognized standards to track pharmaceuticals, we will prevent counterfeit drugs from infiltrating the supply chain issue that has taken lives in the past,” Kimtai went on.
Furthermore, the Health Insurance Platform (HIP) is aimed at improving efficiency and will allow for authentication of claims in real-time, fraud prevention and automation of all activities of the Social Health Authority (SHA). This will also allow both public and private sector health providers to integrate into SHA, whose rollout is anticipated to commence on October 1, 2024.
To allow for the envisaged evolution, the Ministry announced that Kenya will adopt the Global Health Interoperability Standards Protocols (HL7 FHIR Fast Health Interoperability resources) and guidelines ensuring seamless data exchange between different healthcare systems and software. This will allow technology providers in the health sector to adopt a common standard that allows interoperability at the National Level.
“We are on the verge of a monumental change in the way healthcare is delivered in Kenya. This transformation is designed with every Kenyan in mind, and every effort is being made to ensure that this system serves people-saving lives, reducing costs, and making healthcare more accessible for all.
“This is not just about improving services; it’s about ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind. Every life counts, and with your support, we can build a healthcare system that meets the needs of every citizen, now and for generations to come,” PS Kimtai expressed.
