Kenya’s healthcare sector is set for a major transformation following the launch of four key components of a Digital Health Superhighway, a reform that will drive efficiency, transparency, and accountability in service delivery. Speaking during a visit to the hospital, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the initiative aligns with the President’s Economic Transformation Agenda and marks a milestone in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). “Every Kenyan, regardless of income or location, must have access to affordable, quality, and
Dignified healthcare,” Duale affirmed.
Four Pillars of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
The CS outlined the four main pillars guiding UHC implementation:
1. Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System.
2. Health Commodity Security.
3. Human Resources for Health.
4. Health Financing.
The new reforms focus primarily on the first pillar building a digital ecosystem to improve patient experience and curb misuse of resources.
1. Biometric Health Identification
Under Regulation 38 of the Social Health Insurance Regulations (2024), the Social Health Authority (SHA) is rolling out biometric registration and verification for all beneficiaries.
- Purpose: Eliminate fraud, reduce paperwork, and secure access without physical documents.
- Coverage: Live in Level 4, 5, and 6 facilities; onboarding for Levels 2 and 3 ongoing.
- Progress: Over 25 million Kenyans registered, nearly 10,000 health facilities constructed, and over KES 54.4 billion reimbursed under various health funds.
2. Practice 360 App for Health Professionals
The Practice 360 App, now active, is geo-fenced to health facilities and allows healthcare workers to manage pre-authorization claims directly.
- Policy Change: SHA will no longer accept OTP-based authorizations only biometric ID, or the app will be valid.
- Impact: Prevents unauthorized code sharing and strengthens accountability in service delivery.
3. National Product Catalog
The National Product Catalog, integrated with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, is now live across
all SHA-contracted facilities.
- Goal: Ensure only authorized, safe, and certified medicines are dispensed.
- Compliance Rule: Pharmaceutical companies must upload certified product data within 30days or face deregistration.
- Reimbursement Rule: SHA will only pay for drugs actually dispensed to patients.
- Supply Plan: KEMSA’s fulfillment rate to rise from 57% to 90% by November 2025.
4.Health Information Exchange
Kenya is now among the first African nations with a fully operational Health Information Exchange (HIE), enabling real-time, secure data sharing across hospitals, counties, and the national system.
- Benefits: Eliminates duplicate claims, repeat tests, and billing fraud.
- Digital Target: All public hospitals to go fully paperless by November 2025.
Citizen Involvement & Anti-Fraud Measures
Through the Afya Yangu mobile app, Kenyans can: access personal health records, review claims history and report fraudulent activity via call center 147. A Track and Trace System will be launched next month to monitor pharmaceuticals from manufacturer to patient, curbing diversion and counterfeit drugs.
Commitment to Integrity
Hon. Duale warned that facilities engaged in double billing, dispensing counterfeit drugs, or breaching patient trust will face decisive action. “Patient safety, public trust, and integrity are non-negotiable. Every shilling contributed must work for Kenyans,” he stressed. With these digital reforms, the Ministry of Health aims to create a transparent, efficient, and people-first health system that safeguards both resources and patient care. Learn more from The Conversation and the Ministry of Health.
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