Governor, Ministries To Form Taskforce On Electricity And Internet To Boost Health Digitization

A new taskforce is set to be formed to improve electricity and internet access in counties as part of efforts to digitize health services.

This was one of the key resolutions made during a high-level meeting held on April 14, 2025, between the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Ministry of Health, alongside other key ministries.

The meeting, held at the CoG offices in Nairobi, brought together the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of ICT.

It focused on critical issues including the implementation of Social Health Authority (SHA) programs, digitization of healthcare, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the National Equipment Programme (NEPS), payment of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), and implementation of previous summit resolutions.

In a joint statement signed by CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, it was agreed that a joint taskforce will be formed by the Council of Governors, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of ICT.

The taskforce will work to improve electricity and internet connectivity, which are seen as essential tools for rolling out digital health services across counties.

““That the council of governors together with the ministry of health, ministry of energy, and ministry of ICT to establish a joint taskforce that will address electricity and internet connectivity as enablers to the effective digitization of health facilities in the counties,” the statement reads.

The Ministry of Health and the Digital Health Agency also agreed to assess and consider existing health information systems already in use in counties—such as the Afyake platform—for inclusion in the national Health Information Exchange portal.

Additionally, the Social Health Authority (SHA) is expected to explore ways of increasing funding to the Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund to improve service delivery.

SHA was also asked to consider more budgetary support for training health facility staff, especially in levels 2 to 5, to better manage SHA registration and use of digital health products.

The Digital Health Agency was tasked with speeding up the rollout of health digitization projects across all 47 counties.

This includes support for programs like the National Equipment Service Programme and the delivery of necessary digital devices to all remaining public health facilities.