Kenyan health-tech startups are bracing for significant disruption as Safaricom, the country’s leading telecommunications company, commits $813 million over the next decade to digitize the nation’s healthcare system. The project, known as the National Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS), aims to centralize and streamline healthcare delivery through a digital platform that will unify patient records, supply chains, and hospital management across the country.
While the initiative promises to enhance public healthcare by introducing efficiencies, transparency, and improved accessibility, local health-tech startups now face growing concerns about their future. Companies such as Helium Health, Ilara Health, Afya Rekod, and mPharma, which have played pivotal roles in digitizing healthcare at different levels, may be overshadowed by Safaricom’s vast resources and national mandate.
Safaricom’s IHTS Project
Safaricom’s IHTS project, in collaboration with Apeiro Limited and Konvergenz Network Solutions, is designed to address long-standing issues within Kenya’s healthcare system. The key components of the project include a Health Information Exchange (HIE), which will allow for the seamless transfer of patient records across hospitals and clinics. Additionally, an Integrated Hospital Management Information System (IHMIS) will be rolled out to digitize operations in public hospitals, from patient admissions to billing.
The system will also tackle inefficiencies in the supply chain for medical products, introducing digital tools to track pharmaceuticals and reduce stockouts. A digital platform for health insurance will be created to improve transparency and curb fraud, while a robust cybersecurity infrastructure will ensure patient data protection.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, framed the project as part of the company’s broader mission to transform lives through technology. “This investment will provide a modern and integrated solution to healthcare in Kenya, ensuring that every citizen can access quality care,” Ndegwa stated.
Threat to Health-tech Startups?
As Safaricom prepares to roll out the IHTS, Kenyan health-tech startups are grappling with the potential impact. These startups, which have been vital in developing solutions for fragmented healthcare services, may now find themselves competing with a government-backed system backed by Safaricom’s resources.
Helium Health, the Nigerian-founded startup that entered Kenya in 2021, is one such player. Helium Health, the largest provider of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS) in West Africa, had expanded to Kenya with the hope of replicating its success. Led by Country Manager Jean Kyula, Helium Health aimed to support both public and private healthcare sectors, emphasizing the need for digital solutions to improve efficiencies in healthcare. With more than $30 million raised in funding, the startup had already begun establishing partnerships with hospitals and clinics in Nairobi.
However, Safaricom’s IHTS platform may limit the reach and growth potential of Helium Health in Kenya. With Safaricom’s government-supported initiative poised to become the dominant digital infrastructure, smaller startups could struggle to find a competitive edge.
Ilara Health, which recently raised $4.2 million in pre-Series A funding, has been providing diagnostic tools to underserved clinics across Kenya since 2019. The startup’s mission to democratize access to affordable diagnostic solutions has gained traction, but the introduction of Safaricom’s all-encompassing system could restrict its ability to expand within the public healthcare space.
Similarly, Afya Rekod, a Kenyan startup that secured $2 million in seed funding in 2022, has focused on digitizing health records to allow individuals to store and access their medical histories. Its success in building partnerships across the region may now be overshadowed by Safaricom’s efforts to create a unified, government-backed health records system.
Even mPharma, a Ghana-based startup that recently expanded into Kenya through its acquisition of Haltons Pharmacy, could face challenges. mPharma’s goal of managing pharmaceutical supply chains and ensuring affordable access to prescription drugs might be complicated by Safaricom’s system, which aims to digitize and control pharmaceutical supply chains on a national level.
For these health-tech startups, Safaricom’s entry into the sector may necessitate strategic pivots. Some may seek to complement Safaricom’s system by providing niche services or focusing on private sector opportunities. Others may explore partnerships with Safaricom or target markets outside of Kenya to sustain growth.
The Kenyan government’s role in fostering an environment that supports both large-scale initiatives like IHTS and local innovation will be critical. Balancing the need for national healthcare improvements with the protection of competitive opportunities for smaller players will be a delicate task.
Safaricom’s $813 million investment signals a turning point in Kenya’s healthcare system. While the digital overhaul promises vast improvements for the public sector, the future for Kenyan health-tech startups remains uncertain as they navigate a dramatically altered competitive landscape.