KEMSA: President Ruto Hails Digital Transformation Programme Success in Kenya

• President William Ruto visited KEMSA's exhibition stand at the Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi.
• KEMSA's digital transformation programme has improved efficiency, accountability, and visibility across the health supply chain.
• The Government's health reforms have registered significant progress, with 32.3 million Kenyans now covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
• KEMSA's last-mile delivery model takes essential health commodities directly to health facilities, improving access to healthcare services for millions of Kenyans.

The Government has established a nationwide health network whose first point of contact is not necessarily a hospital bed, but the doorstep of a Kenyan home.

President William Ruto's visit to KEMSA's exhibition stand at the Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi provided an opportunity for the authority to showcase its digital transformation programme. The programme has significantly improved efficiency, accountability, and visibility across the health supply chain, with a notable 90% order fill rate compared to 40% three years ago. This achievement is a testament to the Government's extensive health reforms over the past three years, which have begun to deliver measurable results. Ruto highlighted that 32.3 million Kenyans had registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), a significant increase from eight million under the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). The SHA has treated more than eight million people over the past two years, and over KSh209 billion has been received and paid to contracted health facilities across all 47 counties since October 2024. These reforms have also expanded access to primary healthcare, with Community Health Promoters reaching more than nine million households and helping identify health risks early.

KEMSA's digital transformation programme is a critical component of the Government's efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage. The Paperless KEMSA system, designed to streamline operations and improve efficiency, has been instrumental in strengthening accountability across the supply chain. Under its last-mile delivery model, KEMSA takes essential health commodities directly to health facilities, including those serving hard-to-reach communities. This approach has improved access to healthcare services for millions of Kenyans, particularly in rural areas. The programme's success is evident in the significant increase in order fill rate, which now stands at 90%, up from 40% three years ago.

The Government's health reforms have established a nationwide health network whose first point of contact is not necessarily a hospital bed, but the doorstep of a Kenyan home. This milestone was achieved through the Primary Health Care Fund, which has disbursed KSh23.3 billion to support more than 20 million outpatient visits, benefiting over 15 million Kenyans. The fund has also supported maternal healthcare, including deliveries, with KSh17 billion allocated for this purpose. Furthermore, the Government has facilitated more than 500,000 surgeries under SHA and provided treatment to more than 50,000 cancer patients, compared with 7,000 under NHIF. These achievements demonstrate the significant progress made in achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for the potential implications of KEMSA's digital transformation programme on healthcare supply chain management, including increased accountability and visibility.

Source: Original reporting via Daily Nation