eHealth Platforms Enhance Rural Healthcare Delivery

Digital health platforms are transforming healthcare access in Kenya’s rural and underserved areas by bridging the gap between patients and medical services. The Ministry of Health has accelerated its digital transformation agenda, rolling out systems like the Health Information Exchange (HIE) to facilitate real‑time data sharing across facilities.In Uasin Gishu County for instance, over 500 health facilities have received digital devices, enabling frontline workers to use eHealth tools that improve the quality and accountability of care.
A key innovation is the electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS), which is now being adopted in counties such as Nakuru. This mobile-based system gives Community Health Promoters (CHPs) tablets on which they register households, track illnesses, and make referrals — all in real-time. Digitization of community-level data enables easier supervision, smarter resource allocation, and stronger linkages between grassroots health efforts and facility-based services.
Counties are also using eHealth to boost care coordination. In Nakuru, leaders report that digital health systems—such as automated appointment scheduling and electronic health records—are helping By reducing administrative bottlenecks and improving data access, these platforms are strengthening health service delivery in rural clinics.
Telemedicine is another pillar of the rural eHealth strategy. The government has committed KSh 600 million to build a national telemedicine program, deploying it in over 20 health facilities to connect rural patients with specialized care. Through this initiative, patients in remote areas can receive consultations from specialists without traveling long distances — dramatically improving access and bringing care closer to where people live.