The Ministry of Health has begun developing a new digital community health platform that is expected to improve disease surveillance, strengthen primary healthcare services and support the delivery of Universal Health Coverage under Taifa Care.
The new Electronic Community Health Information System Version 3 (eCHIS V3) is designed to replace the current platform with a more secure, scalable and connected system capable of supporting real-time decision-making while improving services offered by Community Health Promoters and other frontline health workers across the country.
The project was unveiled on Friday during a meeting on revitalising Community Health Information Systems in Nairobi, where Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said the new platform had become necessary as Kenya's digital health sector continues to expand.
She said the upgraded system will provide stronger digital support for healthcare workers while meeting the growing needs of the country's health information systems.
"eCHIS V3 will provide secure, scalable and interoperable digital infrastructure to support real-time decision-making, strengthen cybersecurity and improve the experience of Community Health Promoters and other frontline health workers." She said.
The ministry said Kenya has made major investments in community-based primary healthcare through the deployment of more than 100,000 Community Health Promoters across the country. The health workers have been equipped with monthly stipends, medical kits, smartphones and digital training to improve healthcare services at the community level.
The current eCHIS platform has also recorded wide adoption, with more than 30.6 million Kenyans registered from 9.36 million households. The system has supported the delivery of essential healthcare services to more than 17 million people.
However, the ministry said a detailed review of the existing platform showed that its capacity could no longer keep up with the growing demand for advanced data analysis, stronger links between health information systems, improved cybersecurity and better overall system performance.
As a result, health officials resolved that building a completely new platform would better prepare the country to support future healthcare needs instead of making gradual improvements to the existing system.
According to the ministry, eCHIS V3 will improve the collection, management and analysis of health information, enabling health workers and policymakers to make faster and more informed decisions when responding to public health challenges. It is also expected to improve planning and the allocation of health resources.
The redesigned platform will also strengthen integration between health information systems, provide better protection for sensitive patient information and improve the reliability of the digital tools used by Community Health Promoters during household visits.
PS Muthoni called on county governments, development partners, technical experts, academia and innovators to work together in developing the new system to ensure it meets the country's long-term healthcare needs.
She said "eCHIS V3 will strengthen preventive healthcare, empower frontline health workers and improve health outcomes while advancing the Government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda."
The ministry said close collaboration between the national and county governments, technology experts and development partners will be key to delivering a resilient and future-ready digital health system that supports Kenya's long-term healthcare goals under Taifa Care.