Virtual Clinics Expand Access in Remote Regions

Virtual clinics are becoming a powerful tool for improving healthcare access in Kenya’s remote and underserved areas. Under the government’s new 5‑year Digital Health Strategic Plan, counties are expanding telemedicine services to reach communities that traditionally lacked specialist care and consistent access to medical professionals. In Tharaka Nithi County, for example, a telemedicine program was launched in public hospitals to allow residents in rural wards to consult with doctors remotely — reducing travel time and lowering the cost of seeking care.
One of the model projects is in Murang’a County, where a county-run pilot empowers patients at primary health facilities to connect with urban-based specialists via video calls. This setup not only cuts down on hospital overcrowding but also ensures that serious cases get referred appropriately, while managing less severe conditions through teleconsultations. The government has backed this expansion with KSh 600 million to support infrastructure in 20 health facilities, most of which are in marginalized or remote regions.
Beyond general consultations, specialized virtual clinics are also reaching vulnerable populations such as children in rural counties. The Daktari Smart platform enables health workers in outlying areas to connect young patients with pediatric specialists in Nairobi, using telemedicine devices to conduct real-time exams and diagnostics. This has been particularly impactful in counties like Samburu, Lamu, and Baringo, where distance to specialty hospitals is often a barrier to quality pediatric care.
Infrastructure partners are critical to making virtual clinics work. For instance, Huawei supported a pilot that installed high-speed fiber connectivity and video-conferencing IdeaHubs in rural health facilities in Isiolo, linking them to Nairobi referral hospitals. huawei With secure, low-latency links, healthcare providers can consult, diagnose, and guide treatment remotely — a transformation that’s helping overcome the doctor‑shortage and transportation challenges that have long hampered healthcare access in remote parts of Kenya.