In a long-overdue reform, the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has launched Afya Apex Taifa Care, a digital platform designed to ditch paper records and modernize healthcare delivery in Kenya.
Digital Health Authority CEO Anthony Lenayara confirmed that the government remains dedicated to building a robust digital health network. To keep the system running smoothly, KNH will receive free internet access for the next decade.
“We expect KNH to be paperless when the rollout is complete,” Lenayara said. He noted that there are plans to extend the system to Level 5 and Level 6 hospitals across the country.
Lenayara said officials have securely tagged all devices provided through the program and paired them with power banks to handle the hospital’s high-pressure environment. Once the transition finishes, KNH will serve as the national model for paperless medical facilities.
Unveiled on March 17, this system marks a major turning point for the country’s top referral hospital. It replaces slow, manual filing with a fully digital Hospital Management Information System (HMIS). This shift aims to sharpen operations, cut out waste, and provide better results for patients.
Hospital officials revealed that Afya Apex will roll out across several vital departments, including radiology, labs, triage, Accident and Emergency (A&E), the pharmacy, and patient registration.
By merging these services into one digital network, KNH intends to sharpen workflow, cut through red tape, and give staff instant access to patient records. KNH acting CEO Richard Lesiyampe confirmed the hospital has already received 1,286 digital devices to kickstart this transition.
He noted that the Digital Health Authority and various partners built Afya Apex together, highlighting how public-private partnerships can move Kenya’s healthcare goals forward.
A live demo during the launch showed off the system’s speed and easy-to-use interface. Before this national launch, the software passed a two-month pilot test in Machakos, where it successfully boosted service delivery.
The next phase of the rollout centers on training staff across every department. Hospital management has directed department heads to prepare their teams for the shift, noting that the system’s success relies on how quickly and effectively users adapt to the new tools.
The Afya Apex system aims to sharpen data accuracy, make patient records easier to reach, and help doctors make decisions in real time. It should also help the hospital manage its resources better and significantly boost the overall experience for patients.
While KNH admits that going completely paperless will take time, steady learning, and teamwork, the hospital stays dedicated to building a tough, efficient, and patient-focused healthcare system powered by technology.
