Shadrack Nyakoe
As Kenya positions itself as a regional hub for healthcare innovation, a high-level networking event hosted in Nairobi by WHX brought together key public and private stakeholders for a focused conversation on the future of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in East Africa and the importance of the Digital Health Triangle.
East Africa stands at the intersection of three powerful healthcare forces: the push for UHC, the strengthening of primary healthcare systems and the rapid rise of healthcare technology (healthtech). This convergence – the Digital Health Triangle – is changing how the region approaches equity and sustainability in healthcare.
Kenya, in particular, is leading this transformation.
At the event in Nairobi, voices from government, health NGOs and the private sector made it clear that the region’s future health systems will be digital, decentralised and built through collaboration. However, this change won’t happen on its own. It needs urgent investment, new models of partnership and a continued, unflinching focus on community-level impact.
“With overseas development funding on the decline, it’s time for the private sector to step in as both investors and as innovation partners. The future of universal healthcare depends on how well we collaborate across sectors, especially in the face of challenges like climate change,” said Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary, Government of Kenya.
Kenya’s momentum is no accident. Policy reforms, pilot programmes and a vibrant startup scene have laid the groundwork for a digital health ecosystem that reaches beyond urban hospitals and into rural clinics, homes and mobile devices. From AI-assisted diagnostics to mobile-based patient records, technology is turning fragmented systems into connected care.
She noted, it is essential to accelerate digitisation in primary healthcare as the private sector has both the agility and creativity needed to drive practical, technology-based decisions forward. “We’re looking to the private sector to support digital transformation at the community level.”
She also pledged the Ministry’s support for WHX and similar initiatives. “As both a public official and a passionate advocate for accessible health services, I welcome partnerships that align with our goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage. Government cannot do it alone; we need every hand on deck.”
This high level of change is also being driven by companies like Amref Health Africa which delivers services to more than 30 million people and has become a critical player in digital healthcare. “Our journey with WHX began in Kigali in 2023, and for the past three years, we’ve built a partnership rooted in shared values around innovation and community-driven care,” said Corazon Aquino, Acting Global Director for Partnerships and External Engagement, Amref Health Africa.
She emphasised the importance of collaboration in driving lasting health impact. “Our partnership with WHX has allowed us to engage deeply on themes like innovation in primary healthcare and inclusive digital solutions for underserved populations.”
She also reaffirmed Amref’s long-term commitment to the collaboration. “We’re excited to keep this partnership going and to continue these vital conversations and are looking forward to joining WHX again at the upcoming event in October, as we work together to strengthen health systems across the continent.”
Kenya’s leadership is increasingly seen as a regional model. Its blend of public-sector policy ambition and private-sector agility is enabling a new kind of healthcare that’s tech-enabled, prevention-first, and locally relevant. This isn’t about transplanting high-tech solutions into low-resource environments. It’s about building the future of African healthcare from the ground up with tools, data, platforms, and partnerships that are fit for purpose.
This is why, says Daniel Green, Exhibition Manager, WHX Africa Portfolio, Informa Markets, it is key to create opportunities for thought leaders and change makers to come together and plan for an equitable health future.
“WHX Nairobi and WHX Nairobi Labs offer exhibitors and attendees unique, high-value opportunities to unlock healthcare growth and partnerships across Africa,” he said. “Our Kenyan event delivers the kind of global exposure, connections, and deals you’d expect from a world-class healthcare and medical laboratory exhibition.
“Supported by the Ministry of Health Kenya, WHX continues to lead as a premier healthcare and lab event for Kenya and East Africa,” he added. “We’re proud to bring together stakeholders to advance health innovation and infrastructure across the region.”
If Kenya is the proof point, then the Digital Health Triangle is the playbook. What’s needed next is scale: more partners, more integration, and more urgency.
“When we talk about transforming healthcare in Africa, it really comes down to three things: strong primary care systems, universal access without financial hardship, and digital innovation that connects it all. Each one supports the others. Without that balance, we won’t get the scale or sustainability we need,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director for Informa Markets.
The Digital Health Triangle offers a powerful lens through which to build that design: aligning the ambition of Universal Health Coverage with the foundational role of primary healthcare, and supercharging both through targeted digital innovation.
Each point of the triangle reinforces the others. UHC gives the system its moral and policy imperative, which is health for all, without financial hardship. Primary healthcare ensures the system is people-centred and prevention-focused, meeting individuals where they are. And digital health injects the tools, data, and connectivity to make these ambitions real, scalable, and responsive to local contexts.
To find out more and be part of the future of healthcare in Africa, register for WHX Nairobi and WHX Labs Nairobi by visiting: https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/events/healthcare/nairobi/en/home.html
and https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/events/labs/nairobi/en/home.html
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