PS Ouma Oluga Rallies Agencies to Accelerate Kenya’s Digital Health Transformation

Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has called for stronger collaboration, accountability, and effective governance among institutions implementing Kenya’s digital health programme, saying these will be critical to the success of the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

Dr. Oluga made the remarks on Friday while chairing the Healthcare IT Digitization Programme Steering Committee meeting, which brought together the Safaricom Consortium, the Digital Health Authority (DHA), the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), and other implementing agencies to review progress in the rollout of the national digital health programme.

The meeting assessed the implementation of key project milestones, reviewed governance and coordination mechanisms, and explored ways to accelerate programme delivery in line with the government’s Digital Health Agenda.

Deliberations focused on strengthening project governance, streamlining milestone implementation and certification processes, improving coordination among implementing agencies, and addressing emerging technical, contractual, financial, and operational challenges.

Addressing the meeting, Dr. Oluga emphasized that the success of the programme will depend on collective responsibility and close cooperation among all partners.

“The success of Kenya’s digital health transformation depends on strong governance, accountability, transparent communication, and close collaboration among all implementing partners. Every institution has a responsibility to ensure that agreed milestones are delivered on time and to the highest standards,” he said.

The Principal Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a modern digital health ecosystem capable of supporting Taifa Care and transforming healthcare delivery across the country.

“Our commitment remains firm. We are building a secure, interoperable, and resilient digital health ecosystem that will support Taifa Care and accelerate the realization of Universal Health Coverage. This transformation is not just about technology; it is about improving healthcare services and ensuring every Kenyan can access quality care through efficient and integrated systems,” Dr. Oluga said.

Committee members also agreed on a series of measures aimed at fast-tracking the implementation of the programme. These include strengthening coordination among participating institutions, improving documentation and communication, expediting the resolution of outstanding technical and contractual matters through the relevant committees, and enhancing oversight throughout the implementation process.

The meeting was attended by Social Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, Digital Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Eng. Anthony Lenaiyara, representatives of the Safaricom Consortium, officials from KEMSA, and other implementing partners involved in the nationwide digital health programme.