- In a bid to promote access to healthcare, particularly in remote and marginalized regions, Kenyan Government through the Communication Authority has allocated Shs600 million to fund the telemedicine facilities in 20 health facilities.
Technology is increasingly playing a key role in solving the challenges of the health sector. In a bid to promote access to healthcare, particularly in remote and marginalized regions, Kenyan Government through the Communication Authority has allocated Shs600 million to fund the telemedicine facilities in 20 health facilities.
After the onset of Covid-19, KMPDC in February 2021, commenced the issuance of provisional approvals for various registered and licensed health institutions to offer virtual medical services. About 20 health facilities have received approvals from KMPDC to offer telemedicine services in the country.
Kenya currently has not enacted laws regulating telemedicine as of now. However, the Council had developed e-Health guidelines back in 2019, that were put up to the relevant government authorities for approval and subsequent gazettement. These rules will be the basis for the full rollout of telemedicine services in Kenya.
Dr Joseph Sitienei, head of the Health Service Management department, Ministry of Health said that the Ministry of Health’s vision is to reach out to every corner of the entire country and ensure quality health services at a reduced cost. A Pilot program was run at the Kenyatta National and Isiolo Hospitals.
However, experts point out that the ambition is unrealistic due to the disproportionate distribution of health professionals in the country. Several parts of the country lack requisite medical personnel, particularly in the rural areas. The highly skilled health care workers’ distribution in Kenya is concentrated in urban areas while the rural areas remain poorly staffed. Such disproportionate distribution impacts health infrastructure also.
