NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 12 – The Digital Health Agency (DHA) says it is working to connect hospitals, health insurers, patients and medicine suppliers through digital systems to improve the sharing of medical records, protect patient information and reduce administrative delays.

📻 Breaking It Down

DHA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Lenayara made the remarks during an interview on Capital In The Morning, where he explained the agency’s mandate and addressed concerns about access to outpatient services under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Lenayara maintained that SHA was working despite complaints raised by Nairobi County Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria about patients experiencing difficulties accessing outpatient services at a Level 5 referral hospital.

“First, SHA is working. I want to confirm that SHA is working,” Lenayara said.

📌 What You Need to Know

He explained that patients seeking routine outpatient care should ordinarily visit Level 2 to Level 4 facilities, while higher-level hospitals handle cases requiring more specialised treatment.

Lenayara said the DHA addresses gaps in healthcare coordination by enabling hospitals, health financing systems and other providers to exchange information through digital platforms.

He said the agency’s responsibilities include protecting health data, ensuring interoperability between different systems and standardising digital processes to improve access to healthcare services.

The agency was established under the Digital Health Act, 2023, which provides the legal framework for digital health services in Kenya and the development of an integrated digital health information system. The law also outlines provisions for managing health information and protecting personal health data.

“Our health data is very sensitive, and as well as very strategic as a country. And Digital Health Agency first protects and ensures that the health data of every Kenyan is stored properly, is transmitted properly, and is only accessible to correct people,” Lenayara said.

He explained that the agency seeks to ensure patients can move between hospitals without having to repeat tests simply because their medical records are unavailable at the next facility.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya