Nairobi: The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), in collaboration with the Digital Health Agency (DHA) and Social Health Authority (SHA), has identified and shut down over 728 non-compliant facilities and downgraded 301 facilities through digitization. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced efforts on Monday to eliminate unlicensed facilities to ensure quality care for citizens.
According to Kenya News Agency, the government’s digital transformation, led by the Digital Health Agency, is centered on the Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System. This initiative aims to create an efficient and transparent healthcare system. CS Duale emphasized that digitizing healthcare aspects, from patient records to facility operations, will help eliminate fraud, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance service delivery.
Duale explained that the integrated health information system allows real-time data sharing between hospitals and governments, improving decision-making and accountability in the health sector. He added that the phasing out of paper records would ensure patient interactions, prescriptions, and transactions are digitally recorded, reducing manipulation and theft opportunities.
The track-and-trace technology for medicines is designed to monitor each drug’s journey from the manufacturer to the patient, preventing fake drugs from reaching the public. Several regions, including Mombasa and Nairobi, are currently digitizing their facilities.
The CS reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring commodity availability across public health facilities, with reforms underway in KEMSA. The government has recapitalized KEMSA to stock essential commodities and secured a Sh10 billion revolving credit facility to maintain access to medicines.
As of June 16, 2025, 23,674,672 Kenyans had enrolled in TaifaCare, with 28,679 new registrations reported. Additionally, 5,483,160 Kenyans have undergone Means Testing for premium contributions, ensuring fair contributions based on income.
SHA has contracted 9,365 healthcare facilities nationwide, including public, private, and faith-based facilities, providing services to 5.7 million Kenyans. Through the Primary Healthcare Fund, 3.6 million Kenyans have received free treatment for common illnesses, and expectant mothers have accessed antenatal and postnatal care.
In the 2025/26 health budget, significant allocations have been made to support UHC contract health workers, clear medical arrears, onboard new interns, and provide community health promoter training. Investments are also being made to strengthen primary healthcare and address emergency and chronic illnesses.
CS Duale assured the government’s commitment to delivering quality, affordable healthcare to every Kenyan through Taifa Care, aligning with the President’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
