Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on private sector players to align with the Ministry of Health’s Digital Health Superhighway initiative to enhance connectivity, efficiency, and the overall impact of Kenya’s health system.
Speaking during the launch of the Cyclotron 11 MeV machine at Nairobi West Hospital on June 6, 2025, Duale underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and private institutions in driving digital transformation in healthcare. The gala dinner event, themed “Illuminating the Future: Innovation, Impact, and Inspiration,” also marked a significant milestone in Kenya’s cancer care efforts.
The Digital Health Superhighway, spearheaded by the newly established Digital Health Authority (DHA), aims to integrate both private and public healthcare providers into a single, real-time national platform. This will streamline service delivery, reduce duplication, and improve patient outcomes.
Duale lauded the commissioning of the Cyclotron machine, which enables local production of critical radioisotopes used in early cancer diagnosis. He noted that this development would significantly boost Kenya’s capacity to detect and treat cancer in its early stages—potentially reducing the nearly 30,000 annual deaths attributed to late diagnosis.
In his address, Duale directed all national referral hospitals, along with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and DHA, to form strategic partnerships with Centres of Excellence such as Nairobi West Hospital. He emphasized the need for integrated, patient-centred care and stressed the importance of resource-sharing to position Kenya as a regional hub for health excellence and medical tourism.
The evening also celebrated Nairobi West Hospital’s transformation from a small outpatient clinic in Tala, Machakos County in the 1970s, into a Level 6 private referral hospital under the leadership of founder and board chair, Dr. Umesh Saini. The facility was recognised for its advancements in AI-powered PET/CT scans, stem cell therapies, TAVI procedures, and 21 successful bone marrow transplants.
Duale was joined at the event by Principal Secretaries Ouma Oluga (Medical Services) and Mary Muthoni (Public Health), reinforcing the government’s commitment to collaborative innovation in healthcare.
