Migori: Medical Services Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Ouma Oluga, has launched a digitization health transformation drive for the healthcare system in Migori to improve county medicare service delivery operations. Dr. Oluga, who spoke at the Migori County referral hospital, emphasized that the digitization drive, dubbed Taifa Care, across the 177 health facilities will transform the healthcare system in the area by consolidating fragmented data records and reducing time wastage in service delivery.
According to Kenya News Agency, the government aims to digitize all health services across the country through a comprehensive Integrated Health Information System. This initiative is intended to digitize patient-level digital records, ensure interoperable facility data, and provide real-time visibility of service delivery. The system will also include track-and-trace technology for medicines to eliminate diversion and counterfeit drugs.
Migori County is part of the first phase of the digital health transformation program, which also includes 24 other counties, to improve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA). The Ministry of Health has issued 750 gadgets, including desktops and laptops, to community healthcare workers in the county to support the digitization of health insurance claims and facilitate real-time access to patient data.
Dr. Oluga urged Migori residents to register for SHA to ease the burden of accessing healthcare services in various government and private hospitals. He called on county leadership and community healthcare workers to promote the drive to improve SHA registration statistics, which currently stand at 40 percent. Additionally, the national government, in partnership with Migori County, will work to enhance healthcare facilities to provide quality services.
Oluga highlighted the impending confirmation of Universal Health Care Workers (UHC) on a Permanent and Pensionable (PnP) term, which is expected to boost healthcare workers' morale in providing quality healthcare services. Since October 2024, Migori County has received Sh1.9 billion in Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) claims, with public hospitals in Migori claiming Sh161 million.
The PS emphasized the importance of ensuring public hospitals are registered on the SHA portal and digitized to enhance infrastructure and health equipment. He also revealed the Ministry of Health's development of a SHA Rapid Results Employer Compliance Initiative to enforce compliance with the social health insurance act and recover significant arrears from employers. He noted that 44,000 employers have been identified for not remitting employee SHIF funds.
Dr. Oluga urged community health workers to use the issued gadgets effectively to boost the SHA registration drive. Some 422 Community Healthcare Workers have been trained on the digitization process to aid the county in implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) alongside SHA registration. SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi encouraged community healthcare workers to prioritize care to ensure residents receive quality services. She explained that residents can register for SHA and pay upfront for four months before beginning monthly payments.
Dr. Mwangangi also called on health workers, the health department, and the political class to educate the public on the importance of SHA. Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko emphasized that health security is crucial for generating economic resources and pledged continued engagement with the national government to ensure healthcare services reach grassroots levels. He urged residents to remain loyal contributors to the SHA platform to ensure the success of the healthcare system.