The Kenyan government has embarked on a project targeted at collecting information on the types of services and qualified personnel available at hospitals countrywide, which would give patients easy access to information on specialised treatment.
“We have started with records digitization of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) as a pilot project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation,” said Dr. Ndemo. “It is important that each hospital provides information about its capacities in formats that an application can be developed to help patients locate the services where available.”
The information will be made accessible to the public on mobile phones via an application developed specifically for that purpose.
It is also reported that the Kenya government is also developing its open data system that will help investigators and other government institutions get information as quickly as possible.
The Rockefeller Foundation was also behind the records digitisation project at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s major referral hospital, sponsoring the project to a tune of KSh33,720,000 (approximately US$400,000).
Kenya has been on a digitisation journey in its health sector, especially after realising the benefits that come with it, like cost cutting and increased efficiency.
Speaking to HumanIPO, KNH’s Dr. Paul Khaemba said that ICT is a basic tool for faster services and the health sector is no exception.
“There are few staff yet the workload is too much but with online services, it will be easy and efficient in offering services.” he said.
A recent study by international audit firm PwC showed that Africa is going to experience tremendous growth in the health sector with the adoption of mHealth initiatives, with 68 percent of doctors recommending it.
