Is Kenya Prepared to Integrate AI in Healthcare Advancement?

By James Odhiambo

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Almost daily, we receive reports from mainstream media about advancements in Artificial Intelligence (IA) within the healthcare system. 

Notably, Kenya is leading the way in Africa regarding the adoption of AI in the healthcare sector.

Local reports indicate that Kenyan innovators are making significant strides in ensuring full AI integration into the health sector.

However, the lingering question is whether the country is fully prepared for this change.

Aga Khan University, in partnership with other stakeholders, has initiated the UZIMA-DS project. 

This project aims to create a scalable and sustainable platform to apply novel data assimilation approaches and advanced AI/machine learning-based methods to serve as early warning systems in their research areas.

Additionally, a report by a research organization highlights the substantial progress in AI adoption in Kenya, projecting a growth to $101.48 million by 2030.

Early last year, during a panel discussion on the future of AI in Africa, Ms Juliana Rotich, a leading global expert in AI and the head of M-Pesa at Safaricom, highlighted her inspiration from an innovation by Theofrida Maginga, a Tanzanian lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture. 

Maginga developed a Swahili-powered Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) chatbot with an Internet of Things (IoT) component to help local communities and rural farmers with early detection of diseases on maize farms.

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of connected devices and the technology that facilitates communication between these devices and the cloud, as well as among the devices themselves.

“The data from IoT used for early detection of diseases on farms, and then integrating that data into a large language model to inform farmers about potential issues, is fascinating.

This combination of technologies can significantly increase crop yields. 

“I had a great conversation with Theofrida, and we are exploring how to use this data to lower insurance premiums for farmers,” said Ms Rotich.  

Theofrida was one of 50 grantees, primarily from Africa, who received $100,000 each from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation earlier last year to support their innovations in addressing food and healthcare issues on the continent.

Additionally, during the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, Bill Gates announced a $30 million commitment to develop an AI platform in Africa. 

He explained that this platform would provide African researchers and scientists with technological and operational support, enabling them to transform innovative ideas into scalable health solutions.

“In the coming years, rapid advances in AI will play an increasingly significant role in global health and development, potentially revolutionizing how people communicate, work, learn, and improve their overall health and well-being.

The world needs to ensure that everyone—not just the well-off—benefits from AI. 

Therefore, governments and philanthropists must play a major role in ensuring AI reduces inequity rather than contributing to it,” said Mr Gates.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Kenya is experiencing a shortage of healthcare workers, especially in rural areas. AI can help address this scarcity by automating routine tasks, allowing healthcare workers to focus on more complex cases. 

The high healthcare costs in Kenya can be significantly reduced by AI through improved efficiency, waste reduction, and error minimization.

Kenya’s startup ecosystem is growing, with several startups collaborating to develop and implement AI solutions for healthcare. 

Additionally, the Kenyan government has launched several initiatives to promote technology in healthcare. 

For example, the National Health Information System (NHIS) aims to digitize healthcare data and encourage the use of technology in the sector.

Market Restraints

Kenya’s limited infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, may hinder the adoption and utilization of artificial intelligence in healthcare. 

Quality medical data is crucial for developing and implementing AI solutions; however, Kenya’s healthcare data is fragmented, raising concerns about data privacy and security.

The creation and implementation of AI solutions require technical expertise, which is currently scarce in Kenya. 

Additionally, the regulatory framework for AI in healthcare is still under development, and there are concerns about the ethical implications of using AI in this sector.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Key players in AI healthcare include IBM Watson Health, NVIDIA, Google Health, GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, as well as Kenyan startups M-Tiba and Ilara Health.

Notable Insights

In February 2023, a new tool developed by a team of Penn State researchers and Jacaranda Health—an organization dedicated to improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Africa.

The tool was shown to improve health outcomes for new and expectant mothers in Kenya by providing better and more immediate access to maternal healthcare services.

In March 2023, a collaborative data science hub in Kenya began using artificial intelligence to enhance health equity. 

Aga Khan University and the University of Michigan (U-M) held a series of meetings in Nairobi to advance this cutting-edge data science hub, which employs machine learning to improve health and care delivery in local communities.

In conclusion, it is essential to create a collaborative framework to scale up AI adoption in Kenya’s healthcare system, helping Kenyans live healthier lives. 

Kenya ranks 78th globally but first among the six EAC member states in the Government AI Readiness Index, scoring 28.75 on the technology pillar, below the global average of 35.17.

Despite this, Kenya leads the region in technology adoption. 

The government’s National Health Information System (NHIS) aims to improve health data management and promote medical technology. 

Startups like M-Tiba and Ilara Health are developing AI solutions, providing mobile health services and low-cost diagnostics to underserved areas.

These efforts highlight Kenya’s commitment to integrating AI in healthcare. 

Continued collaboration and investment are vital for overcoming existing challenges and ensuring equitable healthcare access for all Kenyans.

By fostering innovation and supporting local talent, Kenya can set a precedent for AI-driven healthcare solutions in Africa. 

The success of these initiatives could significantly improve health outcomes and economic growth in the region.