Safaricom Explains Its Role In New Health Insurance System

• Safaricom has announced its role in a government-backed consortium to implement the Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS)
• The consortium, including Apeiro Limited and Konvergenz Network Solutions, will invest over KSh 104 billion over ten years to roll out, maintain, and support the IHTS
• Safaricom will provide digital solutions to enhance public health facilities, improve pharmaceutical supply chain transparency, and ensure secure healthcare data infrastructure

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

Safaricom has released a statement to explain its role in the new government insurance programme.

In a statement signed by Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa, the company said that it is part of a consortium of companies that will support the Ministry of Health in providing access to health care.

Safaricom and other partners in the consortium will invest in the implementation of an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS).

The consortium, which includes Apeiro Limited and Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited, will invest over KSh 104,808,136,478 over a ten-year period to implement, maintain, and support the IHTS system as of February 2025.

"This project structure allows the Ministry to deploy a comprehensive digital health solution without incurring any upfront capital expenditure (CapEx) or operational expenditure (OpEx)," Safaricom stated.

What is Safaricom's role in SHIF?

According to the statement, Safaricom’s involvement in this project focuses on addressing critical health challenges by deploying advanced digital solutions.

These include digitising public health facilities, improving pharmaceutical supply chain visibility, and creating a secure digital infrastructure for healthcare providers.

Additionally, Safaricom will ensure the system's compliance with cybersecurity measures and safeguard sensitive health data in accordance with Kenyan law.

Alongside the technological advancements, Safaricom will support the Ministry of Health by training healthcare professionals in the use of the new digital platforms.

The rollout of this system will include project management, as well as on-the-ground support for health professionals throughout the country.

Safaricom's CEO, Peter Ndegwa, highlighted that this investment in the health sector aligns with the company’s broader goal of transforming lives through technology.

Ministry of Health orders transition to SHIF

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that the Ministry of Health had ordered all employers nationwide to transition to the new health insurance scheme, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

In a notice on Monday, September 16, the ministry noted that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA) effective October 1.

It clarified that payments received on or before October 9 will be credited to NHIF, while payments received from November 9 will be credited to SHA.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke