Companies commit to support digital platform for health services
By George.Kebaso, December 20, 2023Several technology companies are eyeing lucrative deals in the health sector following the enactment of the Digital Health Act.
The recent commitment by the companies to facilitate a digital platform for health services is a boost for the government’s planned implementation of the digital health law.
During a meeting at Strathmore University Business School the firms inked a partnership deal that will pave the way for development of a range of digital tools to support solutions towards the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a government flagship project.
The government has recently rejuvenated focus to digitise healthcare in Kenya, arguing that it holds the potential to substantially enhance health outcomes by tackling issues such as unequal access to healthcare services.
Health CS, Susan Nakhumicha (pictured) has particularly been vocal about the Digital Health Bill, 2023, saying it will even address the difficulties health professionals face in obtaining crucial health data.
“The scarcity of healthcare personnel, the exorbitant costs associated with healthcare access, and patients’ ability to access their medical records, prescriptions, and medical information together with myriad other challenges will be addressed by a new Digital Health law,” the CS said this recently during a public forum.
At the Futurise HealthTech Summit in Nairobi’s Strathmore Business School, health stakeholders were optimistic that the renewed efforts are about ignition of fresh pathways for African healthcare innovation.
Addressed by the likes of Dr Amit Thakker, Chairman, Kenya Healthcare Federation and Jonathan Calder, Head of Digital & IT, African Cluster at AstraZeneca, the Summit brought together more than 100 technology experts, all dedicated to enhancing health innovations.
Under the A Catalyst Network, The Futurise HealthTech Summit discussed what nurturing healthtech ecosystems through collaboration, will achieve for the planned government aspirations.