Digitalisation of health services is a key enabler in the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC), ICT CS Eliud Owalo has said.
Speaking in Kericho during the ongoing Pre-Mashujaa Day exhibition and conference, Owalo noted that Kenya’s Health Sector still lacks real-time patients’ data for fast and effective diagnosis and decision-making.
This, he said, has been aggravated by slow adoption of digital health platforms, continued reliance on manual systems, fragmented and siloed systems as well as inadequate ICT infrastructure.
“This stands out as one of the most critical areas that technology must address, as part of our current health challenges,” Owalo said.
The ICT Ministry is currently rolling out 100,000 kilometres of Fiber Backbone Infrastructure, targeting health facilities, schools, the Judiciary among other public institutions.
“The fovernment agenda is expected to fast track past health initiatives, in which all level 6 and 5 and some level 4 public hospitals have been connected to the digital superhighway,” Owalo said.
“Ultimately all hospitals, including level 3 and 2 hospitals, will be connected to the digital superhighway."
He acknowledged that his ministry is vital in the effort towards realising the Kenya Kwanza Universal Healthcare agenda.
According to Owalo, digitising health services will streamline health information exchange and enhance care coordination for patients.
“An interconnected digital health ecosystem will secure timely and accurate diagnoses and treatment and, accordingly, contribute to equitable access to quality healthcare for all citizens,” he noted.
Owalo said that the use of ICT will accelerate the integration of e-health systems, like telemedicine, e-learning, medical informatics, health informatics, telehealth and information sharing in the health sector.
He further noted that other aspects of strengthening health institutions including health management information systems and use of digital financial services.
These include including insurance and payment services that can be optimised and accessed through mobile phones, electronic cards and vouchers.
He, however, noted that adoption of digital technologies in healthcare needs to factor in the securing of digital healthcare systems and infrastructure against cyber threats.
Owalo said ensuring privacy of medical and patient data is also key to the provision of quality health to all through digital technologies.
