The government is set to introduce an ambulance service app in the next three months, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revealed.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Duale claimed that the app, "The emergency chronic and critical illness fund", will be established using taxpayers' money and will offer ambulance services free of charge.
Using the app, according to Duale, Kenyans will be able to request an ambulance, similar to how they do with online taxi apps, which will take them to any hospital free of charge, regardless of where they are.
The app, which will be launched in October, will play a key role in elevating the efficiency of the country's healthcare system, in addition to promoting the Universal Health Coverage goal, according to Duale.
"By the way we are introducing a very good app where, by October, Kenyans, will be able to use an app similar to those being used by online taxis where they will check the ambulance in the system, call it and take it to the hospital free of charge, paid by the people of Kenya" Duale said.
"The system is called the emergency chronic and critical illness fund. When the app is deployed, if you get a stroke and collapse in the streets of Nairobi, you can take any ambulance, which will take you to any hospital," he added.
The announcement comes a month after the CS revealed that the ministry is in the process of distributing over 74,000 tablets and computers to all healthcare workers and facilities in the country to ensure the seamless adoption of the Social Health Authority (SHA) in healthcare facilities.
The CS, who was speaking during a public meeting in Samburu on Saturday, June 14, claimed that the devices will enable the workers to offer timely and quality healthcare services to Kenyans.
"Over 74,000 digital devices will be distributed to public health facilities nationwide to support more efficient, data-driven service delivery," the CS said.
Furthermore, the ministry is in the process of introducing advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, in healthcare facilities to improve health management and clinical decisions, according to Duale.
According to the health boss, the ministry will also roll out a trace and track system that will be able to monitor the circulation of drugs, from manufacturers to healthcare facilities, to boost transparency in the country's healthcare ecosystem.
"We will also introduce a national track-and-trace system to monitor the movement of medicines from manufacturer to patient, boosting transparency and accountability across the supply chain," Duale said.
