Health CS Aden Duale during the launch of the Cyclotron 11 MeV machine at Nairobi West Hospital on June 6, 2025. PHOTO/X/Aden Duale.The government is building a "digital superhighway" to improve healthcare through the Digital Health Agency, also known as the Comprehensive and Integrated Digital Health Information System.
This involves integrating private and public healthcare providers' systems into a national platform, facilitating real-time data sharing and streamlining various healthcare processes.
Duale made the remarks on Friday, June 6, 2025, while officiating the launch of the Cyclotron 11 MeV machine at Nairobi West Hospital during a Gala Dinner themed “Illuminating the Future: Innovation, Impact, and Inspiration.”
"The commissioning of the advanced medical equipment marks a major milestone in Kenya’s fight against cancer, enabling the domestic production of vital radioisotopes for early diagnosis and cutting-edge cancer care,'' Duale said.
During the event, Duale directed all national referral hospitals, along with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Digital Health Authority (DHA), to formalise strategic partnerships with Centres of Excellence such as Nairobi West Hospital.
He emphasised the need for patient-centred, integrated care and the elimination of duplication across healthcare institutions.
Duale also highlighted the critical role of collaboration, resource-sharing, and digital transformation in positioning Kenya as a regional hub for health excellence and medical tourism.
The evening also celebrated Nairobi West Hospital’s remarkable journey—from a modest outpatient clinic founded in the 1970s in Tala, Machakos County, to its current status as a Level 6 private referral hospital under the visionary leadership of founder and board chair, Dr Umesh Saini.
The facility was lauded for its pioneering work in advanced medical procedures, including AI-enabled PET/CT scans, stem cell therapies, TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) procedures, and 21 successful bone marrow transplants to date.
The newly commissioned PET/CT scanner and radioisotope production facility are expected to be a game-changer in reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses, which currently contribute to nearly 30,000 deaths annually in Kenya.
Duale was accompanied at the event by Principal Secretaries Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Mary Muthoni (Public Health).
