Kenya faces a severe shortage of healthcare workers, but experts believe digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) could help close this gap. At the recent Nation Health Summit, themed “Towards a Healthier Population: Innovating to Accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC)”, leaders from government, academia, and the private sector discussed how technology could make healthcare more accessible and equitable.
While digital health and AI offer promising solutions, challenges like infrastructure gaps, regulatory barriers, and ethical concerns remain. Dr. Esther Moloyce of the State Department of ICT highlighted Kenya’s progress in expanding internet connectivity through NOFBI, linking major hospitals and aiming for rural “last-mile” access. She envisioned a future where patients consult doctors online, receive prescriptions, and get medicines delivered—all remotely.
With only 13 doctors per 10,000 patients (far below WHO’s recommended 23), AI could supplement, not replace, healthcare workers. Prof. Sayed Karar of Aga Khan University shared how AI-powered dashboards track hospital data in real time, improving decision-making and predictive care—like detecting sepsis risks earlier.
Dr. Mary Moussa stressed that AI is just one part of digital health, alongside telemedicine, e-pharmacy, and mobile diagnostics, ensuring care reaches remote areas. Meanwhile, Dr. David Kariuki urged Kenya to set its own standards, citing successful local systems like Kenya EMR in Murang’a.
The consensus? Digital health and AI can transform Kenya’s healthcare—but only with strong infrastructure, smart policies, and inclusive implementation.
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