Healthcare providers instructed to register for Health Information Exchange before October
Health & Science
By
Stephanie Wangari
| Sep 23, 2024
All public and private healthcare providers have been instructed to register for the National Health Information Exchange (HIE) ahead of its rollout on October 1.
According to the Ministry of Health, the HIE system will consolidate and harmonize patient records across all levels of care, enabling seamless data portability.
"HIE will facilitate the creation of encrypted digital patient records, allowing healthcare providers-both public and private-to access a patient's medical history upon authorization and consent from the patient," said the Ministry of Health in a statement on Sunday.
The ministry added that the system will lead to faster diagnoses, smoother referrals, and more accurate treatments.
HIE is part of the Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHITS), a critical infrastructure for implementing the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Safaricom and two other partners have secured a Sh 104 billion contract to provide this technology.
The consortium will deliver 70,000 tablets and 5,000 laptops to public health workers, ensure reliable internet connectivity and backup systems nationwide, and host a locally managed health cloud to store patient data. Additionally, artificial intelligence and machine learning tools will be integrated to support clinical decisions.
"This transformation is designed with every Kenyan in mind, ensuring the system serves the people by saving lives, reducing costs, and making healthcare more accessible for all. It's not just about improving services, but ensuring no Kenyan is left behind," said Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai last week during a press briefing on the digitization of health services.