Kenya: Ruto Gets Glimpse of Kemsa's Digital Transformation At Health Summit

Nairobi — President William Ruto toured KEMSA's digital transformation exhibition during the Kenya Health Summit on Tuesday. KEMSA showcased how digital systems are improving efficiency, accountability, and visibility in the health supply chain, as well as delivering essential commodities directly to health facilities. The authority reported a 90% order fill rate, up from 40% three years ago, ensuring health facilities have the necessary medicines and medical supplies.

KEMSA's Paperless KEMSA system aims to streamline operations and strengthen accountability. The visit to the KEMSA stand followed Ruto's announcement that the government's health reforms have started yielding measurable results. Under these reforms, 32.3 million Kenyans have registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), compared to eight million under the previous National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

SHA has treated over eight million people in two years, while over KSh209 billion has been received and over KSh178 billion paid to contracted health facilities. Ruto emphasized that these reforms have expanded access to primary healthcare, with 107,800 Community Health Promoters reaching more than nine million households and helping early identify health risks.

The President also highlighted the establishment of a nationwide health network where the first point of contact is a Kenyan home, not necessarily a hospital bed. The reforms have disbursed KSh23.3 billion for over 20 million outpatient visits, benefiting more than 15 million Kenyans, and KSh17 billion for maternal healthcare. Additionally, SHA has facilitated more than 500,000 surgeries and provided treatment to over 50,000 cancer patients, compared to 7,000 under NHIF.

The President stressed that universal healthcare should become part of Kenya's national covenant, not an achievement of a government, party, or president but of the people and the Republic.