Kisumu: A team of Principal Secretaries visited the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to evaluate the effectiveness of its newly implemented digital health management system.
According to Kenya News Agency, the delegation was led by Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services. The team noted that the adoption of the AfyaKE digital platform has significantly streamlined services and enhanced patient care at the facility, the largest referral hospital in the region.
During a walkthrough of the Accident and Emergency unit, the team observed the transition from traditional paper files and manual registers to digital tools, witnessing firsthand the system’s impact on the patient journey from registration to treatment.
Dr. Oluga emphasized that the new system offers health managers real-time oversight of hospital operations, thereby strengthening accountability. “With this dashboard on my phone, I can instantly see how many patients have been attended to today, how many received prescriptions, and how many tests have been processed by the laboratory and pharmacy. This level of visibility helps us plan better and respond faster,” he stated.
The transition aligns with the Social Health Authority (SHA) framework, which aims to ensure that patient services are digitally documented from admission to discharge, promoting transparency, efficiency, and continuity of care.
The visit also included Principal Secretaries Carren Achieng Ageng’o (Children Services), Regina Ombam (Trade), and Fikirini Jacobs (Youth Affairs and Creative Economy), who commended the hospital’s efforts to integrate technology for improved public service delivery.
JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Okise highlighted that the hospital is now fully paperless and integrated into the national AfyaKE system, marking a significant milestone in modernizing healthcare services in the region. Clinicians utilize tablets to send laboratory and pharmacy requests electronically, eliminating the need for patients to carry paper slips between departments.
Dr. Okise further explained that the system enables digital referrals and sharing of medical records between JOOTRH’s main hospital, the Victoria Annex, and the Prime Acre Amenity Wing. The digitization has resolved the long-standing issue of missing patient files, reduced waiting times, and improved coordination of care across departments. “Staff can now track a patient’s movement through various service points in real-time, enhancing efficiency and accountability within the sprawling facility,” he noted.
Despite these advancements, Dr. Okise acknowledged that the hospital, recently upgraded to a national referral facility, has yet to achieve full digital coverage. “Currently, 97 tablets are in use, while at least 187 service points require connectivity for complete integration,” he added.
