East Africa’s healthcare sector is moving from digital health pilots to wider implementation, with providers adopting artificial intelligence (AI) supported diagnostics, telemedicine, hospital management systems and connected devices to improve access, efficiency and continuity of care.
Governments and healthcare providers are investing in interoperable systems, digital claims platforms and data driven healthcare, creating opportunities for technology companies, distributors and investors.
According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), digitalisation could contribute an estimated KSh19 billion to Kenya’s economy by 2028. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that only about 30 per cent of telemedicine projects in Africa are currently implemented, highlighting the potential for further growth.
Against this backdrop, World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi 2026 will bring together healthcare technology providers, hospital decision makers, distributors and investors at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) from September 16 to 18.
More than 5,500 attendees and over 200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries are expected to participate in the 10th edition of the event, which is being held under the patronage of Kenya’s Ministry of Health.
Kenya Healthcare Federation chief executive Dr Anne Musuva said the country’s digital health reforms were creating opportunities to improve access, efficiency and the quality of healthcare.
Kenya’s digital health agenda is increasingly moving from policy development to implementation. The Digital Health Act, 2023 established the Digital Health Agency and provided a framework for integrated health information systems, digital services and health data governance.
The Ministry of Health is also advancing initiatives including the Health Information Exchange, e claims processing, the SHA Registration Portal, AfyaYangu and digital hospital management systems.
For hospitals, the focus is increasingly on technology that delivers practical benefits. AI can support medical imaging and laboratory decision making, while electronic health records can improve continuity of care. Hospital management systems can also enhance patient flow, claims processing, inventory control and resource planning.
The digital health opportunity extends beyond Kenya. Ethiopia’s Digital Health Blueprint 2021 to 2030 prioritises interoperability, digital infrastructure and data use, while Ethiopia Health Connect is expected to expand teleconsultation and other digital health services to more than 30 million people.
However, connectivity remains a key challenge. Unreliable electricity, limited access to devices and inadequate broadband continue to constrain digital health adoption in parts of the region.
Technology providers capable of offering systems that operate effectively under variable bandwidth, support offline workflows, integrate with national platforms and safeguard patient data are therefore expected to be better positioned to serve East Africa’s growing digital health market.
The region’s investment landscape is also expanding. Briter data cited in a 2026 regional health tech review shows that East African startups attracted USD865 million between January and August 2025, with about USD150 million going to health technology.
WHX Nairobi will feature eight product sectors, including IT and digital health solutions, connecting healthcare leaders with providers of AI diagnostics, electronic medical records, hospital management systems, telemedicine platforms, connected devices and health data technologies.
“Kenya’s healthcare sector is rapidly adopting digital solutions, and September marks a key moment for the market,” said Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director for Healthcare at Informa Markets.
He said WHX Nairobi would bring together AI diagnostics, telemedicine platforms and hospital technology providers with healthcare leaders at a critical time for procurement.
